999 calls soar in heatwave

People were urged to take care of themselves, vulnerable family and neighbours and pets after soaring temperatures led to a huge increase in 999 calls.

Across Lincolnshire there was a 22 per cent increase in 999 calls with 1,141 made last Sunday, compared to 938 the weekend before when temperatures were lower. There were 888 ‘999’ calls in the county on the same weekend last year.

Temperatures in Holbeach peaked at 29.5 degrees Celsius on Sunday and 29.8 on Monday – a little way short of the hottest June day recorded in the town of 31 degrees in 2011. The hottest day ever recorded in Holbeach was 34.1 C in August 2003.

Types of 999 calls included sunstroke, dehydration, heat exhaustion and breathing difficulties with 25 patients in the East Midlands area assessed as being immediately life threatening due to an illness or injury linked to the heat.

East Midlands Ambulance Service medical director Dr Bob Winter said: “To ensure we can continue to help those in the most need, we need the public to enjoy the sunshine safely.”
People were advised to keep hydrated, stay out of the midday sun, wear sunscreen and a sunhat and check up on vulnerable friends, relatives and neighbours.

On Monday (June 19), Spalding’s Alder Veterinary Practice warned temperatures that day were potentially life threatening to dogs and walks should be minimised to short evening strolls or avoided altogether.

Spalding and South Holland police inspector Gareth Boxall reminded people to keep out of rivers and waterways after more reports of children jumping in the River Glen, which runs through Surfleet.

The weather brought good news for some, however, with Laddie’s Ice Creams in Church Street, Holbeach, reporting sales around double what it would usually expect.