Placentia parade ends after 60 suffer heat exhaustion

PLACENTIA (CNS) - Twenty of 60 people who suffered heat exhaustion during Saturday's 48th annual Placentia Heritage Parade were hospitalized, forcing an abrupt end to the event.

The injured range from children to senior citizens, according to Capt. Larry Kurtz of the Orange County Fire Authority.

With midday temperatures hovering near 100 degrees in inland Orange County, "no one was immune,'' Kurtz said. The victims included members of high school marching bands who were wearing heavy uniforms.

Approximately 10 ambulances were utilized from Brea, Anaheim, Fullerton and Orange County Fire Authority fire departments along the parade route that started at Morse Avenue and headed north along Kraemer Boulevard, Kurtz said.

The parade was stopped due to the heat at about 11:30 a.m., he said. It was scheduled to go through noon.

A festival continued at Tri-City Park at 2301 N. Kraemer Blvd., "with Orange County Fire Authority presence in case of other cases of heat exhaustion,'' Kurtz said.

The injured reported having consumed energy drinks and sodas to say cool.

"When the weather is hot with low humidity, hydrate early and often with water. Energy drinks and soda are diuretics,'' Kurtz said.