Health Secretary Yvette Cooper has issued an update for Brits
Brits have been urged to check on elderly relatives, neighbours and other vulnerable people when heat related health warnings are in place.
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper thanked NHS staff dealing with the extra pressure caused by soaring temperatures and issued a simple message to the public: look out for those who may struggle in the heat. In a message posted by the Department of Health and Social Care, Ms Cooper said: “This is a moment for all of us to keep an eye out for elderly relatives or neighbours who may be really feeling the heat, anybody who is vulnerable”.
She said people should do this in much the same way they would check on others during a period of bitterly cold weather. She added that heat “does have health consequences” and urged people to keep an eye on the warnings and alerts in place.
The warning comes as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) continues to urge people to take hot weather seriously. UKHSA guidance on keeping cool and staying well during hot weather says high temperatures can put particular pressure on the heart, blood vessels and lungs.
And officials stress that it is not only the elderly who can become seriously ill. Anyone can be affected by excessive heat, while older people, babies and young children, people with long-term health problems and those taking certain medicines can be particularly vulnerable.
The NHS warns that the main dangers include dehydration, overheating, heat exhaustion and potentially life-threatening heatstroke.
Simple steps experts want you to take
Brits are being urged to drink regularly throughout the day – rather than waiting until they feel thirsty. People should also try to stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day, generally between 11am and 3pm, and avoid strenuous exercise when temperatures are at their highest.
If you do need to go outside, NHS advice is to seek shade, wear loose-fitting light-coloured clothing and use sunscreen. At home, close curtains or blinds on windows facing the sun during the day. Windows can be opened when the air outside becomes cooler than indoors, such as overnight.
A cool shower or bath, or splashing cool water over the skin, can also help bring body temperature down. UKHSA advises wearing loose, breathable clothing and says cold packs wrapped in a cloth and placed beneath the armpits or around the neck can help cool the body.
It also warns against spending time in hot, enclosed places such as parked cars. Electrical equipment can add to the heat inside a home, so UKHSA recommends switching off non-essential televisions, computers, chargers and other devices where possible.
NHS guidance also says electric fans can help when indoor temperatures are below 35C, but once temperatures rise above this level they may not be effective and can potentially make hot air feel hotter.
Warning signs you must not ignore
Heat exhaustion can cause tiredness, dizziness, headache, nausea, excessive sweating, pale or clammy skin, cramps, thirst and a raised temperature. The NHS says someone suffering heat exhaustion should be moved somewhere cool, given fluids and cooled down.
But if they remain unwell after 30 minutes, or develop symptoms of heatstroke, urgent medical help is needed. Signs of heatstroke include a very high temperature, hot skin that may stop sweating, rapid breathing or heartbeat, confusion, poor coordination, seizures or loss of consciousness.
Heatstroke is an emergency and the NHS advises calling 999 if someone has these symptoms.
‘Don’t wait for someone to ask for help’
NHS organisations have also highlighted the impact that severe heat can have on health services. During the previous major heatwave, North West Ambulance Service said demand reached levels normally seen only on New Year’s Eve, with older people and those with long-term health conditions among those most affected.
That is why the message from Ms Cooper and health agencies is not simply to protect yourself. Check on someone else, too. A quick phone call, visit or knock on the door could reveal that an elderly neighbour or relative is struggling to keep cool, has become dehydrated or is feeling unwell.
UKHSA says checking on family, friends and neighbours who may be at higher risk can genuinely help protect lives. And people who know they are more vulnerable to hot weather are encouraged to ask someone else to check on them.
The agency also stresses that heat does not have to reach record-breaking levels before it becomes dangerous. Heat Health Alerts are designed as early warnings, with yellow, amber and red levels reflecting the expected health impact. UKHSA says significant heat-related deaths have occurred even during yellow alerts.
