In summer, many of us enjoy longer days, warm evening and outdoor time. But warm weather also has potential risks. Especially when the temperature is higher than usual.
This year’s 3 -month MET Office 3 -month prospect suggests that the warm summer potential of the UK is higher than the typical season, so it should be prepared for the health effects of heat. But how exactly the heat affects the body and what can you do to avoid negative effects?
The heat affects everyone
Most of the health effects in the UK’s ten incidents are the diseases related to heart, blood vessels and lungs. Our body sweats and increases blood flow with the skin, making it naturally cool.
If the body external temperature is higher than the skin temperature, the only effective way to lose heat is to sweat. Therefore, reducing sweating can cause the body to overheat. This can occur as follows:
- dehydration
- Lack of mountains
- Tight
- Certain drug
- Conditions that affect the sweat of the body
What we choose in hot weather can also make a big difference in how hot we are. Simple action Like using a fan, if you wear loose clothes or cool the space to draw a curtain, it can help you keep the temperature to a safer level.
High temperatures can be traditionally vulnerable, but also influence anyone. Ten fatigue and heat stroke Because it is a serious and potentially threatening condition A sign of view How to answer and method.
Role of thermal health warnings
UKHSA and MET Office were jointly developed HHA systemAs part of our efforts to help people maintain safety when the temperature rises.
The HHA system provides early warning information to the public, NHS, local authorities and emergency respondents on heat -related health risks that may occur in hot weather. The warning is a colored (yellow, pumpkin or red color) coded in color to reflect the expected shock level. This allows people to take the right action to protect themselves and others.
To understand how fever affects health, UKHSA publishes an annual report on heat mortality, which is now wrong as an official statistics.
According to this report, we estimate how additional deaths were known as heat -related deaths in hot weather. This is performed compared to the number of deaths during the heat wave and the number in other summer. The summer of 2024 was one of the most cool things in recent years, but the latest annual Thermal mortality report During the summer, it provides an important insight into how moderately high temperatures can affect mortality.
The report also compares the heat -related deaths in 2024 with the expected temperature of 2024 based on the historical relationship between the British and death. This tells us whether heat -related deaths are higher or lower than expected, summer or cool summer.
Other factors that can affect the number of heat -related deaths include public perceptions, how people react during hot weather, and conditions such as warm nights, which can strengthen the effects of heat.
2024 Summer Report New failures of heat -related deaths were included. For the first time, the number of deaths was calculated for other environments such as home and hospitals. There is also a new division of the cause of the basic death. This gives you a clear picture of the effect of heat on the health of the population.
The main result of the 2024 report
During the fourth heat in 2024, there were 1,311 columnar deaths in England. 282 people were more than predicted, depending on the observed temperature and historical temperature accident.
The highest mortality rate in people aged 85 and older appeared in people between 75 and 84 years old.
More deaths occurred earlier in the early summer than the heat episode.
Importantly, only the yellow heat health warnings (the lowest alarm threshold) were issued during this period, but significant heat -related deaths were observed in three of the four column episodes.
This discovery shows that even the middle -level heat can be produced by serious health and mortality, especially for the elderly.
Yellow alarm is important
As media coverage increases, Red and Amber warnings are naturally attracting attention, but yellow warnings are still important. They indicate that the weather can have a true impact on more vulnerable people, such as the elderly, baby and young children, and those with existing health.
that 2023 and 2024 Thermal mortality emphasizes that the two people have serious heat -related deaths during the yellow warning period. This shows that action is needed at all alarms, as well as extreme ten events. There is no need to be dangerous for some people.
We work together for a safer summer
We all play a role in reducing health risks at high temperatures and potentially saving life. Check -in on them Higher risk I feel bad in hot weather Public health advice You can make a big difference.
It is important to see and prepare information at any time. In particular, the annual global temperature continues to increase Health impact of climate change report.
You can sign up for direct heat health notifications from UKHSA by email. hereHelp you to get one step ahead of the temperature rise. Current warning status You can find it on the data dashboard of UKHSA.
Warm weather is what many of us enjoy, but the heat remains a serious health risk. The good news is that with better data, clear warnings and simple actions, we can reduce its impact and help everyone to be safe and well.
