Hampshire air ambulance charity experiences 20% increase during heatwave, with further high temperatures expected

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance charity responded to 61 emergency calls for help in the 7-day period between 22-28 June, a 20% increase compared with the previous week, when the UK experienced the hottest June on record

Staff from the charity typically respond to road traffic collisions, major trauma, and serious medical incidents that require specialist critical care.

However, alongside their usual workload, the teams witnessed a large proportion of incidents were directly linked to the hot weather such as dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke occasionally leading to more serious cases such as cardiac arrests

With temperatures rising year on year Advanced Paramedic Mark Faulkner says services are having to adjust to a new norm

"I think very much we're talking about a new normal. We've seen this over the last few summers. We had a couple of really hot summers recently.

So I think there is something about the new normal. I'm kind of stood in our aircraft hangar looking at and genuinely it looks like looking at over a Mediterranean."

He adds that people can help reduce the pressure on all services by ensuring they look out for those around them, especially those who are vulnerable

"Think about who might be vulnerable around you. Think about who might be struggling with this heat. Is there anything you can do to help making sure perhaps somebody's got access to some cool cold water?

Just sticking your head into neighbours and things and checking they're okay and the heat has a massive impact on demand onto the ambulance service and into hospitals and on the healthcare system in general."

During the heat, it becomes trickier to fly helicopters due to a variety of reasons

"Helicopters work harder in the heat. There is less atmosphere and air to put through the engines in the heat. There's less atmosphere as the rotors grip on, so we're burning more fuel.

Our helicopter feels a little bit like the flying greenhouse at the moment and that's particularly comfortable when you're wearing very flameproof trousers in it."

Mark also made the point that the air ambulance is a charity and relies on the generosity of the public in order to carry on it's operations

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