20 people, including children, suffer heat-related injuries at Savannah park

At least 20 people suffered heat-related injuries at a Sunday community event at Lake Mayer Park hosted by Flau’jae Johnson, a star freshman on Louisiana State University’s National Championship Tigers women’s basketball team.

The incident comes weeks after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned of dangerous heat in Georgia's Lowcountry. At times on Sunday, according to the NOAA, temperatures topped 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a phone call, Joseph Shaw, battalion chief for the Savannah Fire Department, said 10 people, including children, were transported to Memorial University Medical Center. The 10 other people either left the incident with a parent or under their own care, said Shaw.

All of the heat-related injuries were “minor emergencies,” so the people were rehydrated then released from the hospital, said Shaw.

“We don't normally see this; it was, kind of, one of those one-time things,” said Shaw. “There was fluids and food available there, but for whatever reason, people just weren't taking in enough fluids and I guess it snuck up on them.”

Before the event started, Savannah Fire already had an engine on-scene. The event was hosted by Johnson, who is the daughter of late Savannah rapper Camoflauge, and an up-and-coming rapper who has a record deal with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation.

When people started presenting with heat-related symptoms, Savannah Fire personnel started treating them. But around 4:20 p.m., when more and more people showed symptoms, Savannah Fire personnel called for help, said Shaw. In total, two engines responded to the incident.

“We're coming up to our hottest month, which is August,” said Shaw. “You need to hydrate even when you think you're not thirsty. When you get thirsty, it's too late.”

Chatham County closed Lake Mayer Park until around 11:30 a.m. on Monday to clean up from the event and a late night storm that left debris around the 75-acre park.

Drew Favakeh is the public safety reporter for Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at AFavakeh@savannahnow.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Twenty people, including children, suffer heat-related injuries at Lake Mayer Park