Eight Dead in Florida Nursing Home

Police+surround+the+Rehabilitation+Center+in+Hollywood+Hills%2C+Fla.%2C+which+had+no+air+conditioning+after+Hurricane+Irma+knocked+out+power%2C+Wednesday%2C+Sept.+13%2C+2017.+Several+patients+at+the+sweltering+nursing+home+died+in+Hurricane+Irmas+aftermath%2C+raising+fears+Wednesday+about+the+safety+of+Floridas+4+million+senior+citizens+amid+widespread+power+outages+that+could+go+on+for+days.+%28John+McCall%2FSouth+Florida+Sun-Sentinel+via+AP%29

AP

Police surround the Rehabilitation Center in Hollywood Hills, Fla., which had no air conditioning after Hurricane Irma knocked out power, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017. Several patients at the sweltering nursing home died in Hurricane Irma’s aftermath, raising fears Wednesday about the safety of Florida’s 4 million senior citizens amid widespread power outages that could go on for days. (John McCall/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)

Connor Fries, News Editor
September 21, 2017

A Florida nursing home was left without air conditioning after a tree fell and destroyed the AC unit, leaving the building to overheat. The nursing home staff attempted to keep the residents hydrated and cool during Hurricane Irma; the nursing home has also stated that they were prepared for the hurricane with food, water, as well as portable AC units.

By Wednesday, 8 residents were confirmed dead. As of now, the nursing home is not legally allowed to admit any new residents while they are under investigation to see if they were heat-related. The nursing home has recently issued a public statement: “The Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills expresses its deepest sympathy to the family members of the residents who passed away following a prolonged outage of our air conditioning system due to Hurricane Irma.”

Source: CNN