Lombardy heatwave drives 15‑20% rise in emergency calls

The heatwave affecting Lombardy has pushed emergency‑call volume up by about 15‑20% in the past week, according to regional Welfare assessor Guido Bertolaso. The surge is uneven, with the Milan metropolitan area, the lake district and the provinces of Pavia, Cremona and Mantova seeing the highest demand for ambulance and emergency‑room services.

AREU has responded by adding operators and deploying more vehicles, while hospitals have placed full staff in emergency departments. Bertolaso highlighted the need for pre‑hospital triage to avoid unnecessary visits, referenced a June work‑time ordinance to protect labourers from heat exposure, and urged hospitals to ensure backup generators are fueled to keep critical care units running during any power outage.