As Australia swelters through a long, hot summer, the effects of heatwaves and the likelihood of ambulance callouts is at the heart of new Griffith University research.
The study, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, used a systematic review and meta-analysis to gauge the number of ambulance callouts in Australia due to heatwaves.
Lead author and Senior Research Assistant Mehak Oberai from Griffith’s School of Medicine and Dentistry said the heatwaves are known as silent killers and have been the cause of death for more people in Australia than any other natural disaster.
“Not only does this lead to increased mortality, but also leads to an increase in morbidity with added pressure on the healthcare system,” Ms Oberai said.
Read more at Griffith University
Image: Heat data (Credit: Griffith University)