Elmhurst Hospital Center reported four patients with heat-related symptoms. Hospital officials turned two of their decontamination trailers into treatment centers for people suffering from heat exhaustion, dehydration and breathing problems. For many Queens residents it felt like hell on earth last week, as the mercury soared well over 100 degrees for two days.

Temperatures reached a body-roasting 104 degrees on July 22 and a brutal 101 degrees on July 23, as the soaring temperatures shattered old records.

The record-breaking heat forced many Queens residents to stay indoors, where those with air conditioners blasted cool air, and others doused themselves with cold water, hoping for an end to the heat.

City officials said New Yorkers consumed an additional 1.5 billion gallons of water on the first day of the heat wave.

Air conditioners ran at full blast, breaking Con Ed’s all-time power demand record with a mark of 13,182 megawatts at 5 p.m. on July 22. Heavy usage led to voltage reduction, brownouts and outages in several Queens communities, including Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Woodside and Bayside.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg pleaded with city residents to conserve electricity.

“We need people to turn their air conditioners to no cooler than 79 degrees, if you can do that,” Bloomberg said.

Officials at Elmhurst Hospital Center reported four patients with heat-related symptoms. Hospital officials turned two of their decontamination trailers into treatment centers for people suffering from heat exhaustion, dehydration, and breathing problems.

A hospital spokesperson told the Gazette the trailers, which are designed for use in case of a biological terror attack, provided cool showers for overheated Queens residents, along with adequate space for treatment.

Fire officials said more than 100 Queens residents called 911 for help with heat related symptoms, but no heat-related deaths were reported in the borough.

Swimmers who took refuge in the pool at Astoria Park were thrilled when Parks workers poured pounds of ice chips into the water. Some of the braver souls grabbed the ice chips and poured them over their heads to cool down.

A postal worker delivering mail on Broadway on Thursday afternoon was drenched in sweat as he stopped for water at a local restaurant.

“It’s been bad over the years,” the worker said. “But this is way beyond anything I’ve ever experienced. It might be time to consider retirement, if this keeps up,” he said.

Seniors and families without air conditioning headed to cooling centers established by the city.

“We can’t stay at home anymore,” Jacqueline Reyes said. Three young children tagged along with Reyes as she walked into a cooling center in Long Island City on Friday. “This is brutal,” she said.