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

Hannah M. Mason, Jemma C. King, Amy E. Peden, Kerrianne Watt, Emma Bosley, Gerard Fitzgerald, John Nairn, Lauren Miller, Nicole Mandalios and Richard C. Franklin ()
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Hannah M. Mason: Discipline of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
Jemma C. King: Discipline of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
Amy E. Peden: Discipline of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
Kerrianne Watt: Discipline of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
Emma Bosley: Information Support, Research & Evaluation, Queensland Ambulance Service, Brisbane, QLD 4031, Australia
Gerard Fitzgerald: Discipline of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
John Nairn: School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
Lauren Miller: Discipline of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
Nicole Mandalios: Disaster Management Branch, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
Richard C. Franklin: Discipline of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 6, 1-16

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.

Keywords: heatwaves; climate change; ambulance; relative risk; excess heat factor (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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