safety
Hospitals in Europe are gearing up for the next heat wave armed with lessons from this one
By John Leicester, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate)
· July 1, 2026
· 4 min read
Ice. Urgently and in large quantities.At a Paris-region hospital, emergency medics needed it to plunge patients into cold-water baths to speedily bring down their temperatures so they wouldn't join the growing tally of dead from a record-smashing heat wave. But lacking an ice-making machine, wher...
Key takeaway At a Paris-region hospital, emergency medics needed it to plunge patients into cold-water baths to speedily bring down their temperatures so they wouldn't join the growing tally of dead from a record-smashing heat wave.
Why this matters in The San Antonio
San Antonio 's own experience with heat waves makes the struggles of European hospitals feel eerily familiar. As local healthcare providers watch their international counterparts scramble to prepare for the next heat wave, they may be taking notes on how to bolster their own defenses. The city's hospitals have likely dealt with their own share of heat-related emergencies, and the lessons learned by European hospitals could inform local strategies for keeping patients cool and safe. With San Antonio's summers often bringing temperatures well over 100 degrees, the need for reliable cooling systems and emergency ice supplies is not hard to imagine. As the city's healthcare infrastructure continues to evolve, the emphasis on heat wave preparedness in European hospitals serves as a timely reminder to review and strengthen local protocols for managing extreme heat events.
About this story
Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . The San Antonio surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 1, 2026 ·
Source: KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Ice. Urgently and in large quantities.At a Paris-region hospital, emergency medics needed it to plunge patients into cold-water baths to speedily bring down their temperatures so they wouldn't join the growing tally of dead from a record-smashing heat wave. But lacking an ice-making machine, wher...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 1, 2026 by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) and curated for The San Antonio readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by John Leicester, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate). To learn more about how The San Antonio selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The San Antonio, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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