The Barwon region this week has had eight cases of heat exhaustion reported to Ambulance Victoria as calls to the service soared by 20 per cent.
Ambulance Victoria urged people with minor medical complaints to find other options, rather than calling 000 as the heatwave continued.
Manager of Emergency Management Paul Holman said the community could help ease the pressure.
“People should only ever call triple zero if they have a medical emergency,” Mr Holman said. “That’s even more important during the heatwave where the number of calls to ambulance increased 20 per cent.
“If you are suffering chest pain or any other serious medical condition, then certainly call triple zero.
“However if it is something less urgent then just think about whether a doctor, Nurse On Call, a relative or some other service is more appropriate.”
The number of heat exhaustion cases state-wide had increased eight-fold since Monday with a spike in cardiac arrests.
