As you will know, the MET office has now issued a level four warning for Extreme Heat. Level 4 extreme heat warning for Monday and Tuesday next week.
What does Level 4 mean?
A Level 4 (red) Heatwave Alert means the "heatwave is so severe and/or prolonged" that "illness and death may occur among the fit and healthy; not just in high-risk groups.
Particular concerns and risks:
Increased adverse health impacts. Already seeing increased attendance at hospitals due to direct impacts
Increased fatality risk. Last year excess deaths of 900 last year’s heatwave, expected to be even higher this year
Increase in 999 calls in relation to heat, combined with current Covid surge
Risk of flash floods (60% chance) Some rain is forecast after the heatwave, however it is too soon to forecast the severity of this in relation to potential flooding
Increase risk of people getting into difficulty in bodies of water
Increased risk of wild fires
Further advice from the Met Office includes:
Look out for others, especially older people, young children and babies, and those with underlying health conditions
Close curtains on rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler and remember it may be cooler outdoors than indoors
Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol, dress appropriately for the weather, and slow down when it is hot
Useful resources
The Heatwave Plan for England includes important notes for community groups. In particular, it reminds every group of the importance of activating your community emergency plan. These may not be in place yet, but it’s never too late to begin the process. We are attaching an Emergency Plan Toolkit and Emergency Plan Template, for your use.
The Heatwave Plan page also contains some specialist advice, for example, for care home, social care and educational professionals plus some useful graphics.
Attached are helpful heatwave resources from the British Red Cross; heatwave checklist and heatwave first aid advice.
You can find further advice from the UK Health Security agency here.
The GLA have also published a map of Cool Spaces that you can use to seek shelter from heat. Please do promote this map.
Please also find a video from Penny Endersby the CO of the MET Office here: You tube video
We do hope that you find this information of use, and please do disseminate through your networks, staff and to service users.