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Heat wave
With the effects of global warming becoming ever clearer and
with rising average temperatures, the likelihood of experiencing
extreme weather conditions is increasing. During the 2003 heat wave
in France, 14,800 people died, most of whom were elderly.
Daytime maximum temperatures above 31ºC and overnight minimum
temperatures above 16ºC covering most of Medway for at least five
consecutive days is likely to result in significant admissions to
hospital and some deaths.
During the 2003 heat wave, temperatures were recorded at 38.5ºC
a couple of miles outside Faversham. This heat wave is believed to
have caused the deaths of an additional 2,139 people in the UK
during a four-week period.
Medway Council has developed a heat wave plan in partnership
with Medway PCT (www.medwaypct.nhs.uk/), the
Environment Agency (www.environment-agency.gov.uk/)
and other Kent Resilience Forum
members.
Those most at risk are babies, young children, the
elderly, and people with long-term conditions. Please contact your
doctor, pharmacist or NHS direct if you are worried about your
health during a heatwave.
Advice is available from Department of Health at
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_114432
Tips on how to stay safe and enjoy the heat wave
Medway public health experts have given some tips on how to stay
safe while enjoying a heat wave.
When it hots up, many of us understandably like to be out of
doors to make the most of the sunshine, but a heat wave can pose
risks to babies and young children and to older people, especially
if they have a long-term condition, such as heart or breathing
problems. It is particularly important that those who are most
vulnerable take precautions to avoid harm through heat
exhaustion.
Follow these tips to stay safe:
- If a heat wave is forecast, try and plan your day in a way that
allows you to stay out of the heat.
- If you can, avoid going out in the hottest part of the day
(11am–3pm).
- If you must go out, stay in the shade.
- Wear a hat and loose fitting clothing, preferably cotton.
- If you will be outside for some time, take plenty of water with
you.
- Take cool showers or baths and splash yourself several times
a day with cold water, particularly your face and the back of
your neck.
- Eat as you normally would but try to eat more cold food,
particularly salads and fruit, which contain water.
Following these simple steps will help those most at risk to
enjoy the heat wave without putting themselves at risk.
The Heat-Health Watch System
This has four levels of response, based on threshold maximum
daytime and minimum night-time temperatures (30oC by day
and 15oC overnight).
Level 1 - Awareness
This is when the risk of threshold temperatures being breached
exceeds 50 per cent. Advice for those at risk (babies, young
children and the elderly or those with long-term conditions) is
available from Kent and Medway NHS www.kentandmedway.nhs.uk/
and local pharmacists.
Level 2 - Alert
This is triggered as soon as the risk of threshold temperatures
being breached is 80 per cent in one or two regions on at least two
consecutive days. Seek advice from the same sources as Level 1.
Level 3 - Heat wave
This is triggered when Meteorological Office confirms the
threshold temperature has been breached in one or more regions.
Level 4 - Emergency
This level is reached when a heat wave is severe and/or
prolonged, with the effects extending beyond the health and social
care system. The advice for Level 3 or 4 is:
- stay out of the sun,
- keep the home as cool as possible,
- keep drinking fluids,
- make sure that anyone you know who is at special risk, e.g. an
older person living on their own, knows what to do.
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