Determining the Impact of Heatwaves on Emergency Ambulance Calls in Queensland: A Retrospective Population-Based Study

Author:

Mason Hannah M.1,King Jemma C.1ORCID,Peden Amy E.12ORCID,Watt Kerrianne13,Bosley Emma34ORCID,Fitzgerald Gerard15,Nairn John6ORCID,Miller Lauren1ORCID,Mandalios Nicole7,Franklin Richard C.1ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Discipline of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia

2. School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia

3. Information Support, Research & Evaluation, Queensland Ambulance Service, Brisbane, QLD 4031, Australia

4. School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia

5. School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia

6. School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia

7. Disaster Management Branch, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia

Abstract

Heatwaves are a significant and growing threat to the health and well-being of the residents of Queensland, Australia. This threat is increasing due to climate change. Excess heat increases the demand for health services, including ambulance calls, and the purpose of this study was to explore this impact across Queensland. A state-wide retrospective analysis of heatwaves and emergency ‘Triple Zero’ (000) calls to Queensland Ambulance (QAS) from 2010–2019 was undertaken. Call data from the QAS and heatwave data from the Bureau of Meteorology were analysed using a case-crossover approach at the postcode level. Ambulance calls increased by 12.68% during heatwaves. The effect was greatest during low-severity heatwaves (22.16%), followed by severe (14.32%) and extreme heatwaves (1.16%). The impact varied by rurality, with those living in very remote areas and major cities most impacted, along with those of low and middle socioeconomic status during low and severe intensity heat events. Lag effects post-heatwave continued for at least 10 days. Heatwaves significantly increase ambulance call centre workload, so ambulance services must actively prepare resources and personnel to address increases in heatwave frequency, duration, and severity. Communities must be informed of the risks of heatwaves at all severities, particularly low severity, and the sustained risks in the days following a heat event.

Funder

Queensland Department of Environment and Science

Publisher

MDPI AG

Subject

Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Reference59 articles.

1. Chesnais, M., Green, A., Phillips, B., Aitken, P., Dyson, J., Trancoso, R., Rajan, J., and Dunbar, K. (2019). Queensland State Heatwave Risk Assessment 2019, Queensland Fire and Emergency Service.

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4. Syktus, J., Trancoso, R., Ahrens, D., Toombs, N., and Wong, K. (2022, March 15). Queensland Future Climate Dashboard: Downscaled CMIP5 Climate Projections for Queensland, Available online: https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/qld-future-climate.

5. The impacts of climate change on the risk of natural disasters;Disasters,2006

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