Dozens of people became sick and seven were rushed to hospitals after extreme heat hit a popular Tacos and Tequila Festival in Colorado Springs over the weekend.
The Colorado Springs Fire Department said 72 patients were treated during Saturday’s event at UCHealth Park, as temperatures soared under a Heat Advisory. Seven people were transported to area hospitals after suffering more serious symptoms involving dehydration and/or intoxication, according to updated information from the fire department.
The frightening scene unfolded during the Tacos and Tequila Festival, a touring event that combines throwback hip-hop and R&B performances with tacos, comfort food and tequila tastings.
The Colorado Springs stop was held Saturday, Aug. 8, at UCHealth Park on Tutt Boulevard. The event was advertised as a 21-and-over festival featuring live music, food vendors and drinks.
But the outdoor celebration came as the Colorado Springs area dealt with dangerous summer heat.
As the festival continued, medical crews began seeing a wave of people showing symptoms consistent with heat-related illness.
Initial reports from authorities listed 35 people treated and 10 taken to hospitals, but those figures were later revised. The fire department ultimately said 72 patients had been treated and seven were transported for additional medical care.
Officials said those taken to hospitals were experiencing serious symptoms associated with dehydration and/or intoxication. Their individual conditions were not immediately released.
The incident prompted authorities to remind festivalgoers that extreme heat can become dangerous quickly, particularly at crowded outdoor events where people may spend hours standing in direct sunlight.
Fire officials urged attendees to drink plenty of water, take regular breaks from the heat and find cooler areas whenever possible.
Children, older adults and people with certain medical conditions can be especially vulnerable to heat-related illness, and officials encouraged residents to keep an eye on anyone who may be at increased risk.
Medical personnel were expected to remain available during festival activities as organizers and first responders continued monitoring conditions.
Officials also warned people not to ignore early signs of heat exhaustion.
Anyone who begins feeling sick in extreme heat should move into a cooler area, stop strenuous activity and seek medical attention when necessary.
Heat exhaustion can cause heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea and fainting. If the body is unable to cool itself, the condition can progress into heat stroke, which is a life-threatening emergency.
Authorities stressed that anyone showing signs of heat stroke should receive immediate medical attention and 911 should be called.
The incident turned what was supposed to be an afternoon of music, tacos and drinks into a major medical response, with dozens of people requiring treatment before the day was over.
Despite the alarming number of patients, no deaths were reported in connection with the festival as of Sunday.
The updated tally — 72 people treated and seven hospitalized — underscores just how quickly extreme summer temperatures can become dangerous at large outdoor gatherings.
