Let’s cool down and be sensible (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Let’s cool down and be sensible

4:30pm Monday 6th July 2009

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NO-ONE should really complain about last week’s hot spell since we spend plenty of time moaning about the poor weather during the rest of the year.

But the feelings of Dr Charles Thomson, an emergency medicine consultant at the Royal Blackburn Hospital, and his colleagues are quite understandable.

About 200 extra people have been arriving to seek emergency treatment or urgent care since the temperatures shot up – and in one hour last Wednesday alone 37 casualties turned up compared to a normal average of ten.

The point he makes is that much of the increase is the result of “totally avoidable” injuries.

Many accidents like people falling from trees or getting into fights happen because of stupid behaviour fuelled by drinking too much in the sun.

Other classic examples include burns received by over-enthusiastic use of barbecues and one person who hurt himself after trying to mow the lawn while under the influence of alcohol.

We should take it easy, be sensible and make good use of the weather we spend so much of the year waiting for.

And we should all try to ensure that those who work so hard to keep our hospitals running get some chance to enjoy it too.

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