9 hospitalized, dozens more treated for heat at New Jersey graduation

USA Today

25-06-2025

Several people attending an outdoor high school graduation ceremony in New Jersey during the widespread heat wave in the U.S. were taken to the hospital, while dozens more were treated at the scene, according to officials.
On Monday, June 23, nine people were taken to the hospital by emergency medical technicians, while 50 others declined hospital care and were treated on site at Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, said Fire Department Chief Alex Alicea according to the Bergen Record, a part of the USA TODAY Network.
Paterson is about 20 miles northwest of New York City.
Graduates were in folding chairs on the turf, while family members and other attendees sat in the grandstand with little shade.
On Monday, temperatures in the area rose to the upper 90s and the heat index reached 107 degrees, according to the Weather Channel.
Record breaking: Dangerous heat wave strains power grid, millions warned of triple-digit temperatures
Event stopped for safety
During a second ceremony later in the day, 100 people required treatment, while seven more were taken to the hospital, NBC News reported.
Seven more high school graduations were planned at the stadium, but were rescheduled due to the weather, the Bergen Record reported.
Sweltering heat continues
Tens of millions of Americans in the Eastern U.S. continue to face the heat wave.
Along the edges of the heat dome impacting the country, thunderstorms known as a "ring of fire" cropped up, according to forecasters. The severe thunderstorms could bring damaging wind gusts and hail to states on the outskirts of the dome, including parts of the Carolinas, Southeast and mid-Mississippi Valley, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
'Ring of fire': Storms threaten edges of massive heat dome
National heat index map: See which states feel hottest
The map embed below identifies areas where the heat index is forecasted to reach NWS-defined levels from "Caution" (80 degrees Fahrenheit) to "Extreme Danger" (above 125 degrees).
Heat index measures how hot it actually feels when factoring for humidity. Prolonged exposure to a heat index above 80 degrees can lead to fatigue, as previously reported by USA TODAY. As it gets hotter, the risk continues to increase − potentially resulting in heat stroke or even death. Older adults, children, and outdoor workers are generally at higher risk of heat-related incidents.
How to stay safe during extreme heat
People facing extreme heat should do the following, according to NWS:
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke
Extreme heat can have a negative impact on people's health.
"Heat-related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events," according to the National Weather Service.
The following factors increase the possibility of a heat-related illness, according to the National Park Service:
What are the symptoms of heatstroke?
There are multiple forms of heat illnesses, but heatstroke is the deadliest and most dangerous, according to the NPS.
The following are symptoms of heatstroke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
In the case of heatstroke, the CDC recommends people do the following:
Contributing: Joe Malinconico, Paterson Press; Doyle Rice, Jeanine Santucci and staff, USA TODAY
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