Amber heat health alerts issued for East Midlands
- LM News
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Amber heat health alerts issued for East Midlands, East of England, London, North West, South East, South West and West Midlands. Yellow heat health alert issued for North East.
Alerts will be in place from Tuesday 11 August at 9am until Friday 14 August at 9pm.
Risk Description
Significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including:
a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. There may also be impacts on younger age groups
likely increased demand on all health and social care services
internal temperatures in care settings (hospitals and care homes) may exceed the recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment
the heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services
indoor environments overheating increasing the risk to vulnerable people living independently in community and care settings
issues managing medicines
staffing issues due to external factors (for example, affecting transport)
increased demand for power exceeding capacity
other sectors starting to observe impacts (for example, travel delays)
water‑related incidents may increase, including risks from cold‑water shock and drowning
Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said:
Sustained periods of warm weather can result in serious negative health outcomes across the population, so it is important that everyone takes sensible precautions while enjoying the sun. Based on the current forecast, we don’t currently expect the health impacts to be as high as the heatwave we saw at the end of June but older adults and those with pre-existing conditions are still at risk.If you have friends, family, or neighbours who are more vulnerable, it is important to check in on them and ensure they are aware of the forecast and are following the necessary advice.Simple steps such as staying hydrated, avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the day, and keeping your home cool are effective ways to help keep yourself and others safe during periods of hot weather.
UKHSA will continue to monitor and update alerts if necessary.
