January 2009 heatwave in Victoria

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Overview

This report provides an analysis of the health impacts of the January 2009 Victorian heatwave. This was a period during which Victoria experienced the most extreme temperatures, with many records set for high day and night time temperatures, as well as for the duration of extreme heat. Over the five days, 27-31 January 2009, maximum temperatures were 12-15°C above normal over much of Victoria. The temperature was above 43°C for three consecutive days from 28-30 January reaching a peak of 45.1oC on 30 January 2009.

Contents:

• 1 Introduction
• 2 Background
• 3 Heatwave event in Victoria
• 4 Measuring the Impact – Data Sources
  • 4.1 Ambulance Victoria (AV)
  • 4.2 Melbourne Medical Deputising Service (MMDS)
  • 4.3 The Victorian Emergency Minimum Dataset (VEMD)
  • 4.4 Deaths reported to the State Coroner’s Office
  • 4.5 Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
• 5 Results
  • 5.1 Ambulance Victoria
    • 5.1.1 Metropolitan emergency cases
    • 5.1.2 Attendances for heat related conditions
    • 5.1.3 Cardiac arrest
  • 5.2 Melbourne Medical Deputising Service (MMDS)
    • 5.2.1 Total Attendances
    • 5.2.2 Calls to attend a deceased person
    • 5.2.3 Direct heat related illness
  • 5.3 The Victorian Emergency Minimum dataset (VEMD)
    • 5.3.1 Total Emergency Department (ED) Presentations
    • 5.3.2 Direct heat related conditions
    • 5.3.3 Deaths on arrival in Emergency Departments and deaths in Emergency Departments
  • 5.4 State Coroner’s Office and reportable deaths
  • 5.5 Total mortality from the Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages and State Coroner’s Office
• 6 Discussion
• 7 References

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