‘Driven by extreme heat’: London Ambulance Service records highest number of life-threatening emergencies ever
London Ambulance Service recorded the highest number of life-threatening emergencies in its history on Wednesday; Health officials said this increase was “due to extreme heat.”
Ambulance crews responded to a record 642 category one calls, involving the most serious, life-threatening injuries and illnesses, such as heart attacks and patients not breathing.
Temperatures reached 36.1C in Gosport in Hampshire on Wednesday, setting a new record for June, as the country’s infrastructure and public transport struggled to cope with the heatwave.
The record was broken again on Thursday when the temporary temperature reached 36.4 in Yeovilton, Somerset.
Paramedics said Wednesday was the fifth busiest day in the service’s history, with 7,900 calls total and ambulance crews responding to nearly 3,600 patients in a single day.
In a statement, the service said the increase in calls was “related to hot weather” and that crews were attending to more people who had fainted, had difficulty breathing or had heart problems. Health officials have warned that patients can “get seriously ill very quickly” in hot weather and that respiratory and cardiac events may increase in the days following a heatwave.
More than 400 ambulance crews are on the road this week to help keep patients safe in extreme heat, the agency said, urging Londoners to drink plenty of fluids and stay out of the sun between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
People are also encouraged to check on neighbors, relatives and friends who may be more vulnerable to the effects of the heat.
Chief executive Jason Killens KAM said: “We have seen the highest number of life-threatening emergencies in our history caused by extreme heat in London.
“Our teams work very hard in challenging conditions to care for patients and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our staff for their incredibly hard work.
“Please help yourself and others by taking care of yourself; stay out of the sun and stay hydrated.”
Trains were delayed due to the heatwave, passengers were advised not to travel and a tornado ban was imposed in Kent as people battled extreme weather conditions.
The Met Office expects “unusually hot and humid weather” to continue into Friday night, along with thunderstorms that will bring heavy rain and lightning to much of the UK.
Subscribe here To get the latest updates from The Independent
