Ambulances called more in heat
The research showed a 1.2% in total ambulance call-outs for each degree in temperatures above 22 degrees Celsius for people with chronic conditions. Image: ImageMediaGroup If the temperature hits 30 degrees Celsius, Brisbane ambos can expect approximately 10% more call-outs that day for people with chronic conditions, research from QUT's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation has found.With summer on its way and climate change in full swing, QUT Professor Shilu Tong's analysis of 784,000 daily ambulance attendances between 2000 and 2007 could prove a valuable predictive tool."We found a 1.2% increase in total ambulance call-outs for each degree in temperature above 22 degrees for people with cardio-vascular, respiratory or other chronic conditions," said Professor Tong, a researcher with the School of Public Health and Social Work and IHBI."We found 22 degrees was the threshold with minimal call-outs and the effect of one degree below was even higher - for each degree...