More than a week of 100-plus-degree days across North Texas has already proven dangerous, especially for people experiencing homelessness. Emergency responders recently came to the rescue of one man in Fort Worth just in time.
“Sir, are you okay? I am going to set some water by you, okay?” Gary Wilkerson asked the man.
In the blazing heat, Gary Wilkerson sprang into action after spotting a man in distress near his shelter. He learned that the man had been lying on the sidewalk for several hours in the heat. He got Gary’s attention as he passed out water and ice to help people survive the heat.
“I looked out and saw that he was laid out with his hands behind him,” Wilkerson said.
Wilkerson called 911 and explained the man’s condition to the operator. He grew concerned because the man never fully engaged with him while asking if he needed help.
“He’s not speaking. He’s not opening his eyes, nothing,” Gary told the dispatcher.
Within minutes, paramedics arrived and began treating the man, who Wilkerson says had been overcome by the heat. As the Executive Director of When We Love shelter on East Lancaster in Fort Worth, Gary Wilkerson was relieved when the paramedics arrived.
Wilkerson says emergencies like that are becoming something he is seeing too often this summer.
That is why every day, he and his staff at the When We Love shelter on East Lancaster are handing out free sandwiches and snacks, cold water and bags of ice. But with temperatures continuing to soar, Wilkerson says the demand is outweighing the supply.
“We are running out of ice. We literally had to go buy bags down the street at the store today,” Wilkerson said.
For people relying on the shelter, knowing how to survive the extreme heat can be critical.
“Get in some shade or carry an umbrella and/or be inside,” Shanda said.
For people like Michael, even something as simple as a free cooling towel can provide relief.
“Thanks, this works, and you can put a cold bottle of water to your head; that works too,” Michael said.
When We Love is also providing free bus passes to help people reach cooling centers. The shelter itself serves as a backup cooling center, offering air conditioning and fans for anyone needing to escape the dangerous heat.
“We have fans going, we have the AC going,” Wilkerson said, “and we are keeping chilled water on hand just in case too.”
When We Love depends largely on donations for the public, and the non-profit organization teams up with other help organizations to serve the unhoused population in Fort Worth and Tarrant County. But Wilkerson believes it’s the volunteerism and individual donations that help keep them going every day. They have a website set up for people to give to so they can continue to help others.
“Without those donations, even the small ones, we could not do what we do for people,” Wilkerson shared.
After witnessing firsthand what the extreme heat can do to someone, Wilkerson says he is staying alert, ready to help if another person finds themselves in danger.
Right before the paramedics closed the door on the ambulance to transport the man Wilkerson rendered help to, he assured him everything would be okay, despite the heat taking a toll on him Wednesday afternoon.
“They’ll take good care of you, sir,” Wilkerson said.