UK Heatwave: All government measures in place to reduce impact

Following the issuance of a “red” warning for high heat in the United Kingdom early next week, the British government declared a heatwave emergency.

This is the first-ever red warning for excessive heat in England, and it applies to regions of central, northern, eastern, and southeastern England on Monday and Tuesday next week, when temperatures will be at their greatest. London is included in the alert.

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The advisory applies to wide sections of England on Monday and Tuesday, when temperatures may surpass 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) for the first time, offering a danger of serious sickness and even death among healthy people, according to the United Kingdom Met Office. The British record is 38.7 degrees Celsius (101.7 degrees Fahrenheit), established in 2019.

“Nights are also likely to be exceptionally warm, especially in urban areas,” Met Office meteorologist Paul Gundersen stated, in the release. “This is likely to lead to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure. Therefore, it is important people plan for the heat and consider changing their routines. This level of heat can have adverse health effects.”

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To avoid health emergencies, do the following:

Drivers are being warned to stay adequately hydrated before embarking on road trips in order to avoid a four-figure punishment. Motorists who “fail to have proper control” of their car due to dehydration symptoms such as dizziness and loss of attention at the wheel will face a £1,000 punishment.

Rail passengers and London Underground users are warned not to travel on Monday or Tuesday unless absolutely necessary. “If customers do need to travel, they should check before they travel as we are expecting there to be some impact to Tube and rail services as a result of temporary speed restrictions we will need to introduce to keep everyone safe,” Transport for London, which manages the capital’s transportation system, is led by Andy Lord, its chief operating officer.

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Schools and nursing homes have been asked to take precautions to protect students and residents who are particularly vulnerable to high temperatures.

The warning comes as scientists warn that climate change is increasing the likelihood of extreme heat waves in Britain, which is not used to such temperatures.