Tengrinews.kz — The abnormal heatwave currently gripping Kazakhstan has led to a sharp surge in the workload of emergency medical services. In Astana, where temperatures on July 14 reached a historic high of +38.6°C, the number of emergency calls increased by approximately 10 percent, with figures in Almaty being even higher.
200 more calls per day: What is happening in Astana
Extreme heat has persisted in the capital since July 5, placing a significant strain on medical services. This was reported by Bota Sadetkhan, First Deputy Director for Medical Affairs of the Astana City Emergency Medical Station. According to her, the number of requests for emergency assistance has increased by up to 10 percent.
"While in typical months we handled about 1,800–1,850 calls per day, the number now exceeds 2,000. This represents an increase of approximately 200 calls daily," she shared.
People with chronic illnesses suffer most during peak heat. In Astana, the expert notes that the primary reason for calls is cardiovascular disease—accounting for up to 30 percent of all calls, making it the largest category.
"During peak heat, we more frequently see people with high blood pressure and heart rhythm disturbances. There are patients with clinical signs of heart attacks and strokes. Additionally, chronic conditions are exacerbated, particularly bronchial asthma. These patients most often call for an ambulance in the evening," the specialist observed.
Respiratory diseases rank second: asthma flare-ups and high fevers due to acute respiratory viral infections, bronchitis, sore throats, and tonsillitis. Injuries are the third most common reason for emergency calls.
At the same time, according to her, there have been no officially registered cases of sunstroke in the capital to date. Medics are urging residents to take care of themselves and are reminding them of first aid protocols.
"If symptoms such as a severe headache, high fever, weakness, dizziness, or confusion appear, it is necessary to call an ambulance, move the person to a cool place as soon as possible, and provide them with water," recommends Bota Sadetkhan.
Heatstroke cases double: What is happening in Almaty
According to medical data, the situation in Almaty is more severe. Azamat Kurmanbekov, Acting Deputy Director of the Almaty Emergency Medical Service, reported that the number of ambulance calls due to heatstroke has recently doubled.
The expert stated that in the first two weeks of July alone, the emergency service received over 33,600 calls:
- Nearly 1,500 of these were due to high blood pressure.
- Over 300 were due to cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and ischemic heart disease.
- Another 50 patients with acute cerebrovascular accidents (strokes) were rushed to city hospitals.
The elderly, children, pregnant women, and patients with chronic diseases are at the highest risk.
For the latter group, the expert emphasizes the importance of strictly following doctors' orders, taking medication regularly, monitoring blood pressure and blood sugar levels, avoiding overheating, and not missing scheduled consultations.
Doctors advise avoiding sun exposure between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM if possible, wearing light clothing made of natural fabrics, as well as hats and sunglasses.
A detailed weather forecast for July 16, 17, and 18 can be found here.