Thornes John Edward, Fisher Paul Anthony, Rayment-Bishop Tracy, Smith Christopher
Health Protection Agency, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, , Oxfordshire, UK.
Emerg Med J. 2014 Mar;31(3):220-8. doi: 10.1136/emermed-2012-201817. Epub 2013 Feb 27.
Although there has been some research on the impact of extreme weather on the number of ambulance call-out incidents, especially heat waves, there has been very little research on the impact of cold weather on ambulance call-outs and response times. In the UK, there is a target response rate of 75% of life threatening incidents (Category A) that must be responded to within 8 min. This paper compares daily air temperature data with ambulance call-out data for Birmingham over a 5-year period (2007-2011). A significant relationship between extreme weather and increased ambulance call-out and response times can clearly be shown. Both hot and cold weather have a negative impact on response times. During the heat wave of August 2003, the number of ambulance call-outs increased by up to a third. In December 2010 (the coldest December for more than 100 years), the response rate fell below 50% for 3 days in a row (18 December-20 December 2010) with a mean response time of 15 min. For every reduction of air temperature by 1°C there was a reduction of 1.3% in performance. Improved weather forecasting and the take up of adaptation measures, such as the use of winter tyres, are suggested for consideration as management tools to improve ambulance response resilience during extreme weather. Also it is suggested that ambulance response times could be used as part of the syndromic surveillance system at the Health Protection Agency.
尽管已经有一些关于极端天气对救护车出诊事件数量影响的研究，尤其是热浪方面，但关于寒冷天气对救护车出诊及响应时间影响的研究却非常少。在英国，对于危及生命的事件（A类），目标响应率是75%，即必须在8分钟内做出响应。本文比较了伯明翰在5年期间（2007 - 2011年）的每日气温数据和救护车出诊数据。极端天气与救护车出诊及响应时间增加之间的显著关系清晰可见。炎热和寒冷天气都会对响应时间产生负面影响。在2003年8月的热浪期间，救护车出诊数量增加了多达三分之一。在2010年12月（100多年来最冷的12月），响应率连续3天（2010年12月18日至20日）降至50%以下，平均响应时间为15分钟。气温每降低1°C，响应表现就会降低1.3%。建议考虑改进天气预报以及采取适应措施，如使用冬季轮胎，作为在极端天气期间提高救护车响应恢复能力的管理工具。此外，还建议救护车响应时间可作为健康保护局症状监测系统的一部分。
