Circle the City, a nonprofit organization in Phoenix, has launched a new program to provide health care to homeless individuals living on the streets. In response to rising temperatures that regularly reach over 100 degrees in America’s hottest metro area, Circle the City has introduced an IV rehydration program to prevent life-threatening heat illness among the homeless population. Homeless people accounted for nearly half of the 645 heat-related deaths in Maricopa County last year.
Dr. Liz Frye, vice chair of the Street Medicine Institute, commended Circle the City’s innovative approach to administering IVs on the street to prevent fatalities. As temperatures continue to rise, health care providers from San Diego to New York are facing the challenge of protecting homeless patients from extreme heat. While programs like the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program have traditionally treated patients for frostbite and hypothermia, they are now seeing more cases of heat exhaustion during the summer months.
Circle the City’s street teams actively search for patients living in homeless encampments, providing essential medical care such as wound care, medication refills, and IV hydration to those in need. With temperatures soaring in Phoenix, homeless individuals are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses due to factors like mental illness, substance use, and limited access to shelter.
As heat-related deaths continue to increase each year, health providers are emphasizing the importance of proactive measures to protect homeless individuals from extreme temperatures. Circle the City, founded in 2012, has been at the forefront of providing comprehensive health care services to Phoenix’s homeless population, with a focus on respite care and long-term solutions for transitional housing. Through collaborations with local hospitals, the organization is able to ensure that homeless patients receive the necessary after-care and support for a successful recovery.
Source
Photo credit apnews.com