The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office have updated their health health alerts from 22 to 25 June.
There is now a red alert covering parts of the Midands, south-east Wales and southern England from 01.00 on 24 June to 21.00 25 June.
The full dashboard and a map with regional updates is available at: Heat health alerts | UKHSA data dashboard.
A red alert means severe impacts are expected across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including:
- increased risk to life across the whole population, with significant impacts on older people
- significantly increased demand on all health and social care services
- the heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services
- hot indoor environments making provision of care challenging and national critical infrastructure failures, such as generators and power outages
- water‑related incidents may increase, including risks from cold‑water shock and drowning.
More from: Weather warnings - BBC Weather.
There is an action card for health and social care providers that summarises the actions they should consider at each Heat-Health Alert level, and guidance on the risk of heat stress when using PPE and what to do if someone is showing signs of heat exhaustion.
The Homecare Association also has Summer Planning Guidance, which covers a range of health and safety issues, including how to ensure people who are at risk stay hydrated and safe when temperatures rise: Summer Planning Guidance for homecare providers.
