152
We also tested the calculation of the same indicators in single towns. The average value of sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value obtained across the
region were 0.13, 0.97, 0.83, respectively.
These preliminary results confirm the usefulness of a surveillance system based
on ambulance data. An additional level of alert for the health prevention system
would be suitable when alert days are associated with exceptionally elevated number of ambulance dispatches.
The most appropriate spatial scale for the alert system (e.g. single towns, “area
vasta”, whole region), a more sophisticated definition of hot days (with the inclusion of information on persistence), alternative definition of threshold values for
apparent temperature are currently under investigation. The forthcoming availability of longer time series of ambulance dispatch data will also improve the robustness
of the analysis.
The use of Ambulance dispatches to evaluate the risks associated with biometeorological discomfort has the following advantages respect the current use of mortality data:
– A higher number of data to correlate with Discomfort Index (10X), taking into
account a wider range of the effect of heat on health.
– The ability to monitor the effect on health during heat episodes (real time
monitoring)
– Additional information which can be gathered with ambulance dispatches (location of the calls) could allow spatial analysis to identify geographical areas at
higher risk.
– A better categorization of diseases in ambulance dispatches could enable to better define effect of heat waves in human health (cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases…)
In conclusion, the encouraging results of this preliminary analysis point to the
setting-up of a surveillance system, whose actual implementation should be arranged
in cooperation with Health Authorities both at local and regional level.
6.2.6 Conclusions
The UHI project sought to boost transnational discussion among policy makers,
local administrators and professionals in order to bring about developing policies
and actions with the purpose of adapting and mitigating the natural and man-made
risks arising from the UHI phenomenon. For this purpose the pilot action of
“Villaggio Artigiano” was aimed at:
– providing a deeper knowledge on man-made risk of the UHI and its interactions
with global climate change,
– setting up suitable strategies for the mitigation of - and adaptation to UHI,
– improving current land-use planning tools and civil management systems according to mitigation and adaptation strategies.
S. Zauli Sajani et al.
We also tested the calculation of the same indicators in single towns. The average value of sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value obtained across the
region were 0.13, 0.97, 0.83, respectively.
These preliminary results confirm the usefulness of a surveillance system based
on ambulance data. An additional level of alert for the health prevention system
would be suitable when alert days are associated with exceptionally elevated number of ambulance dispatches.
The most appropriate spatial scale for the alert system (e.g. single towns, “area
vasta”, whole region), a more sophisticated definition of hot days (with the inclusion of information on persistence), alternative definition of threshold values for
apparent temperature are currently under investigation. The forthcoming availability of longer time series of ambulance dispatch data will also improve the robustness
of the analysis.
The use of Ambulance dispatches to evaluate the risks associated with biometeorological discomfort has the following advantages respect the current use of mortality data:
– A higher number of data to correlate with Discomfort Index (10X), taking into
account a wider range of the effect of heat on health.
– The ability to monitor the effect on health during heat episodes (real time
monitoring)
– Additional information which can be gathered with ambulance dispatches (location of the calls) could allow spatial analysis to identify geographical areas at
higher risk.
– A better categorization of diseases in ambulance dispatches could enable to better define effect of heat waves in human health (cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases…)
In conclusion, the encouraging results of this preliminary analysis point to the
setting-up of a surveillance system, whose actual implementation should be arranged
in cooperation with Health Authorities both at local and regional level.
6.2.6 Conclusions
The UHI project sought to boost transnational discussion among policy makers,
local administrators and professionals in order to bring about developing policies
and actions with the purpose of adapting and mitigating the natural and man-made
risks arising from the UHI phenomenon. For this purpose the pilot action of
“Villaggio Artigiano” was aimed at:
– providing a deeper knowledge on man-made risk of the UHI and its interactions
with global climate change,
– setting up suitable strategies for the mitigation of - and adaptation to UHI,
– improving current land-use planning tools and civil management systems according to mitigation and adaptation strategies.
S. Zauli Sajani et al.