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Sun lovers prompt rise in 999 calls
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| Balmy: a reader seeks sanctuary in the shade |
Ambulance crews in Sutton responded to 240 emergency calls over the weekend as several sun-worshippers collapsed on the hottest day of the year.
London Ambulance Service (LAS) felt the heat in temperatures touching 27C, with 22 per cent more 999 calls handled in the borough than the previous weekend.
Common ailments reported to emergency control rooms during the unseasonably pleasant weather included sunstroke, heat exhaustion and fainting.
LAS staff said many heat-related conditions could have been avoided with extra care. They urged people to be wary of dehydration as beer gardens remained packed this week.
Richard Webber, deputy director of operations at LAS, said: "The weekend was very busy for both our control room and frontline staff in Sutton, and as ever our priority will continue to be to respond to patients who are seriously ill or injured.
"With the warm weather set to continue, we would urge local people to take care when they are out and about in the sun.
| "The weekend was very busy for both our control room and frontline staff in Sutton, and as ever our priority will continue to be to respond to patients who are seriously ill or injured." | | London Ambulance Service |
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"Anyone with minor conditions should consider other healthcare options, such as calling NHS Direct or visiting a minor injuries unit, NHS walk-in centre or local pharmacist.
"If they need to go to hospital for non-emergency treatment, they should use a taxi or get a lift from a friend or relative."
Across the capital, operators fielded 8,875 calls on Saturday and Sunday, more than a thousand incidents above the average.
In Sutton, 74 calls involved seriously ill or injured patients, compared with 55 the previous weekend. Temperatures are likely to drop today but broken spells of sunshine should return shortly.
Anyone worried about their health should contact their doctor, pharmacist or NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or at nhsdirect.nhs.uk.
3:48pm Tuesday 13th May 2008
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