[ODUNEWS] July 18 – British authorities announced a rare extreme heat emergency for large parts of England on Monday, with temperatures expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) for the first time in British history.
The record-high temperatures were expected to disrupt travel, health care and schools as well as pose a serious threat to life.
Authorities placed more ambulances and medical workers on call amid health fears.
The Level 4 alert, issued by the Health Security Agency (UKSHA) for Monday and Tuesday, is defined as a “national heat emergency” and was triggered for the first time on record.
What kind of disruptions are expected?
The UK Met Office warned that the temperatures posed serious risks, including severe illness and death, even among healthy people.
It said there was a high risk of localized loss of power, water and mobile phone services.
The national rail network asked customers not to use its services unless essential.
Severe delays due to warped tracks and failing power supplies were expected, and some services, including a key route between northeastern England and London, were suspended for parts of Tuesday.
London’s metro network was running a reduced service on Monday and Tuesday, urging commuters to only travel if absolutely necessary.
While some schools were due to stay closed, others were preparing to cool off the children by setting up wading pools and water spray.
To relieve strain on the health service, some medical procedures were canceled.
What are the authorities advising?
With the British capital expected to endure the highest temperatures, Mayor Sadiq Khan issued a warning via Twitter, sharing the UKHSA’s guidelines on how to cope with the heat.
It advises that Britons look out for others, especially those that are most vulnerable to the extreme weather. Hydrating frequently and staying indoors were also recommended.
As children and the elderly are among the most vulnerable to the impact of heat, nursing homes were urged to protect their inhabitants as well as possible.
Khan went on to discourage Londoners from using public transport and to be prepared for delays.
Cabinet Office Member Kit Malthouse said the government was prepared for the heat wave and would seek to learn lessons from it while British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was criticized for missing a meeting on Saturday concerning the government’s response to the weather crisis.
The @metoffice has forecasted extremely high temperatures in London today.
Hot weather is dangerous for everyone. Learn the symptoms and what to do if you or someone else shows signs of heat exhaustion during this heatwave ➡️ https://t.co/Y2V3MAkZal https://t.co/ijbOymYaEp
— NHS London (@NHSEnglandLDN) July 18, 2022
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