London Ambulance Service experienced its busiest ever day on Friday as the capital endured a third day of a red-alert heatwave that smashed June temperature records. The control room was inundated with 8,869 emergency calls and responded to 688 life-threatening incidents, including heart attacks and breathing troubles.
Unprecedented Demand Surpasses Pandemic Levels
Over 500 calls per hour were made to the service between 6pm and midnight. Demand exceeded that of the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to a critical incident being declared between 10pm and 1.30am, according to the Daily Mail. London Ambulance Service posted on X: "Yesterday was our busiest day in history. Thank you to all our crews and call handlers. Please only use 999 in a life-threatening emergency."
Record Temperatures and Health Warnings
Friday was the hottest June day on record, with temperatures reaching 37.3C in Suffolk, the Met Office reported. Temperatures remained high on Saturday, prompting NHS England to urge the public to take safety measures while watching England play in the World Cup. Advice included avoiding excessive drinking, alternating alcoholic drinks with water, staying in the shade between 11am and 3pm, and wearing light, loose clothing. Hot weather significantly increases the risk of dehydration and heatstroke, and fans were advised to pace their drinking and watch for early symptoms of heat exhaustion.
Official Response and Gratitude
Craig Harman, Chief Operating Officer at London Ambulance Service, said: "I couldn't be prouder of our staff and volunteers, who have worked tirelessly through the hottest days of the year and the busiest period in our history to continue to provide Londoners with care and compassion." He added: "Despite bringing in more than 400 additional ambulance crews and increasing staffing across our 999 and 111 control rooms, demand has remained exceptionally high this week. We have now stood down the critical incident but remain very busy. If you're enjoying the sunshine or cheering on England this evening, please stay hydrated, drink responsibly and look after each other."
