'People don't realise how at risk they are': A day with an ambulance service in a heatwave

'People don't realise how at risk they are': A day with an ambulance service in a heatwaveImage caption, Fifty-five-year-old Andrew was the crew's first call-out of the dayByChloe Hayward, Health reporter and Hugh Pym, Health editorPublishedJust nowSuffering from asthma and a chronic lung condition, 55-year-old Andrew is distressed, overheating and struggling to breathe or talk. Exeter paramedics Connor Gilronan and Charlotte Sherston give him medication and oxygen, and remind him to stay cool and hydrated.This is a typical callout for the ambulance crew in South West England, who in one of Britain's longest-lasting heatwaves, are tending to cases from heat exhaustion to stroke patients. The BBC joined them on one of their shifts.Once Andrew's medication kicks in, his breathing eases and the paramedics decide he is safe to stay at home.Major emergencies are rare for ambulance services, whose visits are largely spent caring for the elderly or those with chronic health conditions, the paramedics told the BBC.Both Charlotte and Connor were also on shift in the record-breaking heat last month and say the health risks of heatwaves are often misunderstood.Image caption, Exeter paramedics Connor Gilronan and Charlotte Sherston on their shift during one of Britain's longest-lasting heatwaves"Winter pressures are nothing compared to heatwave pressures," says Charlotte, who is working alongside colleague.Connor agrees. "People die in heatwaves. Not because they were out running around or taking risks, but because they're elderly and don't realise how at risk they are," he says.As they finish paperwork between callouts they tell the BBC of visiting houses where people were wearing jumpers or even had the heating on because they didn't know how to turn it off.To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be playedFigure caption, Top tips from paramedics as temperatures so...