Heatwave Health Risks

[Raistlin]

The first heatwave of the summer has been announced.

But how dangerous is the hot weather to our health and what precautions should we be taking?

When does hot weather turn into a heatwave? During a heatwave there are consecutive days - at least two - of high, but most importantly no real dip in the heat at night leaving little opportunity for people to cool off.

A heatwave warning is not triggered by a specific temperature but is based on a threshold at which deaths are expected to increase due to consistently high temperatures across large areas of the country.

The government has issued a level two heatwave warning, saying there is a 60% chance of heatwave conditions in parts of England and Wales over the weekend.

Level four is the highest alert, which is reached when high temperatures are expected on four or more days in two or more regions of the country.

Between Friday and Sunday, the Met Office predicts that East Anglia will see maximum daytime temperatures of 31C with night minimum temperatures around 18C.

In central London, temperatures may not fall below 20C.

Are heatwaves getting more common? According to a Department of Health report, climate change means that heatwaves are likely to become more frequent in England.

The worst heatwave in recent years happened in August 2003 when record-breaking temperatures led to 2,000 excess deaths in the UK.

Northern France bore the brunt of the hot weather that year when three weeks of unprecedentedly high temperatures resulted in 15,000 excess deaths.

By the 2080s, it is predicted that an event similar to that experienced in England in 2003 will happen every year.

So why is a heatwave dangerous? Consistently hot weather poses a risk to health because it can interfere with the body's ability to regulate its temperature.

For most healthy adults and children, as long as they drink plenty of water and avoid baking in the midday sun, it should not pose a problem - other than perhaps being uncomfortable.

But for the elderly, very young, and those with chronic medical conditions, the health risks are potentially significant.

Most of the extra illness and death seen during a heatwave is caused by respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

It can also cause rashes, fluid retention, and dizziness and fainting.

Heatstroke is the most dangerous condition, where the body can no longer control its temperature, and people become confused, disorientated, have fits, and fall unconscious.

Left untreated, it can lead to organ failure and brain damage.

What can people do to limit the risks? The advice is to be prepared, especially those people who are most vulnerable, and to check on neighbours and relatives who may be at risk.

Stock up on food and drink and make sure that those who take regular medicines have adequate supplies.

Drink plenty of water and keep in the shade where possible - particularly taking care to avoid the sun in the hottest part of the day between 11am and 3pm.

Stay in the coolest room in the house, close blinds and curtains if necessary and also keep windows shut when it is warmer outside than in, opening them at night when it is a bit cooler.

Ultimately if you or else feels unwell, the best thing to do is to drink water and go somewhere cool to rest.

Anyone experiencing breathlessness, chest pain, confusion, dizziness, weakness or cramps that get worse or persist, should seek medical help.

How do care homes and hospitals prepare? All care homes and hospitals will have a heatwave plan in place.

With a level two warning, they should be monitoring indoor temperatures.

They should also make sure there are cool areas that patients or residents can retreat to if necessary and supply lots of cold water and ice.

Most importantly, they should identify those in their care who are most at risk to keep an extra close eye on them.

This might be those who are taking medicines which interfere with the body's ability to regulate its temperature, or those with conditions, such as heart disease, that increase their chance of problems.

[Bizarra]

We aren't worried

Yesterday & last Night....... Grey and raining

Today & tonight.............. as above

Tomorrow & tomorrow night,,,,,as above, only more so :censor:

[Raistlin]

But you have your own personal cloud

[Bizarra]

But you have your own personal cloud

I'll lend it to you on a very long lease

[Raistlin]

Every silver lining has it's cloud...

[Bizarra]

Every silver lining has it's cloud...

Like seeing the carrot at the end of the tunnel

[Raistlin]

Why was the last person sick

[bothwell_buyer]

my prayers

vare at last coming true - if not a tad slowly. I asked for a fiery tempest to raze England to the ground and all I got was an influx of southerners coming to wur beloved country to find fresh air and real water with few hosepipe bans (for watering yer car)

Now we can expect water price increases as water pipes are installed to provide London with water for the masses etc etc. Cheaper to send all o them up to Shetland- one way ticket and a free tent. Whingeing sh***s

[Raistlin]

When your oil runs out that's all you have left...

Oh and midges :D

[Bizarra]

I hope you are all enjoying Raist's Heatwave

It is coming down in Stair rods here. It has eased for the moment but is still very overcast :(

I had the wipers at full speed last night & the cloud was about 100 ft. overhead

No wonder ! There is one of the biggest open air gigs of the year on, all this weekend. It never fails.

[Raistlin]

If it's raining cats and dogs don't step in any Poodles

It's in the 30's in my office today, hence my depression :D

[Bizarra]

If it's raining cats and dogs don't step in any Poodles

It's in the 30's in my office today, hence my depression :D

"The Sun, it shineth upon the Just and the Unjust"

If we had a poll, I wonder which category you'd be in ?

[Phoenix999]

my prayers

vare at last coming true - if not a tad slowly. I asked for a fiery tempest to raze England to the ground and all I got was an influx of southerners coming to wur beloved country to find fresh air and real water with few hosepipe bans (for watering yer car)

Now we can expect water price increases as water pipes are installed to provide London with water for the masses etc etc. Cheaper to send all o them up to Shetland- one way ticket and a free tent. Whingeing sh***s

Oh I love the Scots when they moan and bitch.... they are so happy when they are miserable

Independence for England and lets free ourselves from the sponging riff raff north and west of the power house of the UK

[Bizarra]

my prayers

vare at last coming true - if not a tad slowly. I asked for a fiery tempest to raze England to the ground and all I got was an influx of southerners coming to wur beloved country to find fresh air and real water with few hosepipe bans (for watering yer car)

Now we can expect water price increases as water pipes are installed to provide London with water for the masses etc etc. Cheaper to send all o them up to Shetland- one way ticket and a free tent. Whingeing sh***s

Oh I love the Scots when they moan and bitch.... they are so happy when they are miserable

Independence for England and lets free ourselves from the sponging riff raff north and west of the power house of the UK

And we love you too

Signed

A Superior Being from West of the UK :lol2:

[Raistlin]

my prayers

vare at last coming true - if not a tad slowly. I asked for a fiery tempest to raze England to the ground and all I got was an influx of southerners coming to wur beloved country to find fresh air and real water with few hosepipe bans (for watering yer car)

Now we can expect water price increases as water pipes are installed to provide London with water for the masses etc etc. Cheaper to send all o them up to Shetland- one way ticket and a free tent. Whingeing sh***s

Oh I love the Scots when they moan and bitch.... they are so happy when they are miserable

Independence for England and lets free ourselves from the sponging riff raff north and west of the power house of the UK

And we love you too

Signed

A Superior Being from West of the UK

Point of order Sir..

There are no superior beings in the West :D... We are all here

[Bizarra]

my prayers

vare at last coming true - if not a tad slowly. I asked for a fiery tempest to raze England to the ground and all I got was an influx of southerners coming to wur beloved country to find fresh air and real water with few hosepipe bans (for watering yer car)

Now we can expect water price increases as water pipes are installed to provide London with water for the masses etc etc. Cheaper to send all o them up to Shetland- one way ticket and a free tent. Whingeing sh***s

Oh I love the Scots when they moan and bitch.... they are so happy when they are miserable

Independence for England and lets free ourselves from the sponging riff raff north and west of the power house of the UK

And we love you too

Signed

A Superior Being from West of the UK

Point of order Sir..

There are no superior beings in the West :D... We are all here

Mr Chairman,

The previous speaker should be ejected from the debate for racist comments & delusions of grandeur :P

[Raistlin]

I am considerably grander than thou, after all I'm English

[Bizarra]

I am considerably grander than thou, after all I'm English

and proud of being a mix of prehistoric tribes,Saxons, Danes, Normans= French, Dutch, Germans, Irish, Scots, Welsh & passing immigrants ? Leave to ferment for hundreds of years & use as fertiliser

To alleviate that caustic comment, somewhat, I'm of Planter descent. To save you looking that up my ancestors from England & Scotland were given large chunks of Ireland in the 1700s, & kicked out the original owners. We were & still are, a community within a community. We do not marry outside " our own" & those who do, until recently were ostracised & cast out, quite literally. Still happens, on occasions today. So, whilst Irish by birth. choice & residence of my Ancestors for 300 years, I have no Irish blood that I know of :(

[Raistlin]

I'm all Viking according to my family history,

Maybe that accounts for a pain I get after a few hours of pleasuring the ladies

I get a bit Thor...

[Bizarra]

I'm all Viking according to my family history,

Maybe that accounts for a pain I get after a few hours of pleasuring the ladies

I get a bit Thor...

Hours? That would cause it

5 minutes & they tell me they are pleasured enough ..........

[Raistlin]

I'm all Viking according to my family history,

Maybe that accounts for a pain I get after a few hours of pleasuring the ladies

I get a bit Thor...

Hours? That would cause it

5 minutes & they tell me they are pleasured enough ..........

You do it twice then...

[Bizarra]

I'm all Viking according to my family history,

Maybe that accounts for a pain I get after a few hours of pleasuring the ladies

I get a bit Thor...

Hours? That would cause it

5 minutes & they tell me they are pleasured enough ..........

You do it twice then...

It isn't 3am any more and I'm more alert, so here is a better reply to "I get a bit Thor... "

Well, You shouldn't hammer them so hard

[Raistlin]

You should stop LOKI n....

[Bizarra]

You should stop LOKI n....

Freyja right there. I'm Delling you now ,you Höðr , I'm still Fulla Hair & I'm Nott going to get any Baldr :lol2:

[Raistlin]

You worked Frigga hard on that one but one still has to groan a say Odin, I'm on the road to Hel...