Further warnings to be safe in warm weather as emergency service calls rise

This article was published on July 3, 2015 and information contained within may now be out of date.

East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) have put out further warnings after a ‘surge’ in the number of 999 calls over a 24 hour period has been related to the warm weather.

A spokesman for the service said that yesterday (Wednesday), it took more than 3,000 calls compared to an average of 2,000 a day.

They said: “We have seen a surge in the number of 999, urgent and emergency calls over the past 24 hours, many relating to symptoms caused by the warm humid weather.

“Types of calls included sunstroke, dehydration, heat exhaustion and breathing difficulties.

“We have also seen an increase in the number of road traffic collisions.”

With demand continuing to increase, Medical Director Bob Winter is urging people to take responsibility for their health and wellbeing.

They said: “We have seen a surge in the number of 999, urgent and emergency calls over the past 24 hours, many relating to symptoms caused by the warm humid weather.

“Types of calls included sunstroke, dehydration, heat exhaustion and breathing difficulties.

“We have also seen an increase in the number of road traffic collisions.”

With demand continuing to increase, Medical Director Bob Winter is urging people to take responsibility for their health and wellbeing.

He said: “We want people to enjoy the weather, but to do so safely. Since yesterday we have taken around 48 calls for heat exposure and sunstroke, many of which could have been prevented.”

EMAS has offered some tips to help people enjoy the weather and has also promoted its #999wise video.

The tips include:

Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
Wear a sun hat and sunscreen to prevent burning or heat stroke
If you begin to feel unwell in the heat, take a sit down and rest inside and take a drink of water. If you still feel unwell after a time, you can get advice from your GP out of hours service, 111 or local pharmacy. To find your nearest services and seek advice on how to treat sunstroke you can search at www.nhs.uk

The spokesman added that last year, the service responded to 175 calls reporting ‘drowning’.

They warned people to constantly supervise children and babies in paddling/swimming pools and not to take the risk of swimming in dangerous waters – for example, rivers, lakes, ponds, or quarry water.

The spokesman said: “Instead, cool down in your local leisure centre where swimming is supervised.

“If you’re planning a journey, consider the unexpected e.g. breakdown or delays due to a road traffic collision and make sure you take your regular medication and plenty of water with you. Try to schedule a rest stop on route so you can have a drink and something to eat.

“Our colleagues and volunteers are working incredibly hard and we are proud of their continued commitment to provide the best possible care during this challenging time; many from all areas of the service working over their shift hours or coming in for extra shifts to help us give the best possible patient care.”