Heatwaves Impact on Prehospital Emergency Medicine: A Qualitative Study to Improve Sustainability and Disaster Preparedness in Veneto Region, Northern Italy

Matteo Paganini (), Nikolaos Markou-Pappas, Francesco Della Corte, Paolo Rosi, Giulio Trillò, Marialuisa Ferramosca, Andrea Paoli, Federico Politi, Adriano Valerio, Andrea Favaro, Ives Hubloue, Luca Ragazzoni, Francesco Barone-Adesi and Hamdi Lamine
Additional contact information
Matteo Paganini: CRIMEDIM—Center for Research and Training in Disaster Medicine, Humanitarian Aid and Global Health, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
Nikolaos Markou-Pappas: CRIMEDIM—Center for Research and Training in Disaster Medicine, Humanitarian Aid and Global Health, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
Francesco Della Corte: CRIMEDIM—Center for Research and Training in Disaster Medicine, Humanitarian Aid and Global Health, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
Paolo Rosi: Centrale Operativa SUEM 118, Azienda ULSS 3 Serenissima, 30174 Mestre-Venezia, Italy
Giulio Trillò: Centrale Operativa SUEM 118, Azienda ULSS 1 Dolomiti, 32044 Pieve di Cadore, Italy
Marialuisa Ferramosca: Centrale Operativa SUEM 118, Azienda ULSS 2 Marca Trevigiana, 31100 Treviso, Italy
Andrea Paoli: Centrale Operativa SUEM 118, Azienda ULSS 5 Polesana, 45100 Rovigo, Italy
Federico Politi: Centrale Operativa SUEM 118, Azienda ULSS 8 Berica, 36100 Vicenza, Italy
Adriano Valerio: Centrale Operativa SUEM 118, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata di Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
Andrea Favaro: Emergency Department and Emergency Medical Service, “San Bassiano” Hospital, Azienda ULSS 7 Pedemontana, 36061 Bassano del Grappa, Italy
Ives Hubloue: ReGEDiM—Research Group on Emergency Disaster Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Luca Ragazzoni: CRIMEDIM—Center for Research and Training in Disaster Medicine, Humanitarian Aid and Global Health, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
Francesco Barone-Adesi: CRIMEDIM—Center for Research and Training in Disaster Medicine, Humanitarian Aid and Global Health, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
Hamdi Lamine: CRIMEDIM—Center for Research and Training in Disaster Medicine, Humanitarian Aid and Global Health, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 16, 1-13

Abstract: Heatwaves are periods of unusual heat, whose frequency and intensity is increasing. Heatwaves also translate into emergency healthcare dysfunctions, but evidence on how to mitigate these effects still needs to be provided. This multicentric study aimed to identify the interactions between heatwaves and prehospital emergency medicine (PHEM). After obtaining informed consent, PHEM personnel working full-time in different districts of the Veneto Region, Northern Italy, were recruited. Their perspective was captured through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using content analysis methodology. Thirteen subjects participated in the study. Their insights were categorized into four themes: perception of heatwaves; clinical impact of heatwaves; social factors and heatwaves; heatwaves and emergency medical service (EMS). According to the interviewees, the strain on EMSs during heatwaves may be partially reduced by interventions targeting vulnerable populations, primary care, social networks, and education and information. Specific public health actions could follow the surge science principles of staff, stuff, structure, and system to help policymakers improve EMS surge capacity planning, preparedness, and responses. The present study also identified PHEM vulnerabilities and targets of interventions to implement heat–health action plans, mitigate the risk of prehospital emergency care dysfunction, and improve EMS sustainability and preparedness against heatwaves and the changing climate.

Keywords: heatwave; climate change; emergency medicine; emergency medical service; public health; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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