Between 17 and 20 campers were hospitalized after suffering heat exhaustion and dehydration during a bus trip, as a dangerous heat wave pushed temperatures into the 90s across the region. The group fell ill while travelling, prompting a large emergency response and a scramble to get the young people medical care.
According to the reporting from the scene, the campers had been headed from an upstate camp to New Jersey when between 17 and 20 of them were overcome by the heat. The illnesses came on as the temperatures climbed through the day, part of the extreme heat that has gripped the area.
Many of the affected campers were brought by ambulance to St. Anthony's Hospital in Warwick, New York, in Orange County. Officials said others were taken to additional area hospitals as a precaution, spreading the patients across facilities to make sure each one could be checked and treated.
Heat exhaustion and dehydration can escalate quickly, especially in young people, and the decision to move the campers to hospitals reflected the seriousness with which responders treated the situation. The exact condition of those hospitalized was not immediately detailed.
Once the affected campers had been taken for care, a second bus, owned by Triple D travel, left with the remaining campers to finish the trip to New Jersey. That allowed the rest of the group to continue on while the others were treated.
The incident unfolded against the backdrop of an intense heat wave that has prompted warnings across the tri-state area, with officials urging people to stay hydrated, limit time outdoors during peak hours and watch for the signs of heat-related illness.
For a summer camp outing that was meant to be a straightforward trip, the day instead turned into an emergency, underscoring how quickly extreme heat can affect large groups. Authorities continued to monitor the campers who had been hospitalized as the heat wave pressed on.