the SAMU 31 platform in the front line on the front of the heat wave
In Toulouse, the SAMU is already in tension because of the lack of medical personnel, emergency strikes and the management of the Covid. But that was without taking into account the heat wave that is hitting the Region. Regulators face a 10% increase in calls.
Difficult for the SAMU 31 platform teams in Toulouse this weekend of July 14. In addition to the Covid, the emergency strike, and the lack of medical personnel, they now have to deal with the heat wave.
Dehydration, fainting or convulsions, since the start of the heat wave, calls linked to the heat wave have multiplied at the control centre.
“It’s mainly for the elderly. There, we have just received a call for a person who has not drunk for 2 days because she is not thirsty”, says Stéphane Drouet, regulation assistant. “So at a quarter to 11 a.m., she feels unwell even though it’s not the time of day when the heat is the strongest.”
About ten regulation assistants take turns day and night to answer calls from patients. And when there is an emergency, the communication is transmitted to a regulating doctor, who makes the final decision.
“We have a lot of dehydration, fatigue in the elderly, but also discomfort in young people”, specifies Virginie Vantaux, regulating doctor. Young people are easily left at home, but for older people it is more difficult. Often, we send an ambulance to take stock.”
With the Covid, the overcrowding of emergencies and the lack of medical personnel, the Samu 31 platform had already been under tension for several months. The hot weather this weekend further complicates the situation. Medical reinforcements have been mobilized to deal with this new influx of calls.
“Since July 10 already, we have reinforced the workforce in anticipation”, explains Pierre Roucolle, emergency doctor. “Afterwards, we still have the possibility of opening the crisis unit, if there have been too many calls linked to the heat wave, which allows us to manage this additional daily influx”.
The number of calls to the Samu could well continue to increase in the coming days. The forecasts of Météo France do not announce a drop in temperatures. They will still climb and could even break records this Monday, July 18 in the pink city. The situation is therefore likely to worsen.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne recently encouraged the French to dial 15 to avoid overcrowding in emergencies.
The summer promises to be very hot for the SAMU 31 teams.