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Boston EMS tweeted on Sunday that their call volume is up 20 percent since the heat wave began on July 19, nearly a week ago.
More than 100 were directly linked to soaring temperatures during that timespan, but officials said that doesn't encompass it all. High temperatures can exacerbate illnesses as well as cause heat stroke.
"The heat makes everything worse," EMS Deputy Superintendent Len Shubitowksi told NBC10 on Friday.
Emergency workers asked residents to stay indoors whenever possible, avoid exerting themselves when outside, and stay hydrated. Along with the additional calls for help, cities' electric grids are also reaching their limits.
There were rolling blackouts in Dorchester on Sunday, NBC10 said, and thousands of people lost power in Boston as the mercury reached the upper part of the scale.
This presented a significant rebound, as more than 450 people were still without power in Suffolk County alone as of Monday afternoon, according to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA).
The National Weather Service said the heat index in Boston would be as high as 90 degrees on Monday, July 25. Ten degrees lower than Sunday, but no relief from the oppressive heat. It's the seventh day straight temps have been above 90, the second-longest span in the city's history, meteorologists said.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu extended the heat emergency on Sunday for a second time. She blamed climate change for the rising temperatures.
“With the hot temperatures and humidity now projected to last into Monday, we’ve made the decision to again extend the heat emergency to prioritize the safety of our residents,” said Mayor Wu. “As we lengthen the heat emergency for a second time, it is evident that a changing climate is a public health risk for our city."
City leaders said 50 splash pads would be open across the city as a respite from the heat. Twelves Centers for Youth & Families would also be available to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A reprieve could be here soon, but not in the way people hoped.
A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for much of the Northeast on Monday, which should bring cooling showers and usher in drier air later in the day, the National Weather Service said. The high for Tuesday is forecast at 85 degrees.
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