The hotter the weather, the busier paramedics become. A study carried out in the German city of Würzburg found that ambulance callouts for cardiovascular complaints rose by more than a third during heatwave conditions, with the worst affected areas being those with the highest population density and least green space.
Between 2011 and 2019, scientists from the University of Potsdam monitored temperature, air pollution and ambulance dispatches across Würzburg. The study, published in the journal Weather, Climate and Society, found that days with poor air quality did not have a significant influence on ambulance callouts – perhaps because the negative health effects of air pollution often take longer to manifest.
However, callouts associated with cardiovascular complaints shot up on warm days, increasing by 37% when the average temperature hit 30C, compared with days with an average temperature of 18C. Increased demand on the health service lingered for up to two days after heatwave conditions had passed
The Bavarian city’s centre and area around the train station were found to be hotspots for heat-related emergency callouts because they were busier areas, but this was also probably compounded by the urban heat island effect. As heatwaves continue to become more likely, urban planners and public health managers will need to heed findings like these, to help societies adapt to new summer extremes.
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