Why these heat-health alerts don’t cover Wales
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office have issued an amber heat-health alert for five regions of England, warning of potential health impacts as temperatures are set to exceed 30°C in some areas.
The amber alert covers the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, London and East of England from 9am on Tuesday 12 August until 6pm on Wednesday 13 August.
A yellow heat-health alert has also been issued for the North West and North East over the same period. The South West and Yorkshire and the Humber are already under a yellow alert.
Although UKHSA is a UK-wide agency, its heat-health alerts only cover England.
This is because public health is a devolved matter.
In Wales, Public Health Wales (PHW) is responsible for public health advice and works with the Met Office to receive information on extreme weather.
PHW and local authorities issue their own guidance, but Wales does not have a formal heat-health alert system equivalent to that used in England.
The Met Office issues separate “extreme heat warnings” which apply across the UK.
An amber alert means impacts are likely to be felt across the health service and there may be increased health risks for the wider population, particularly for people aged over 65 and those with pre-existing conditions such as respiratory or cardiovascular disease.
Dr Paul Coleman, Consultant in Public Health at UKHSA, said: “These kind of temperatures can result in serious health outcomes across the population – particularly in those who are vulnerable, such as the elderly or those with serious health conditions – so it is important that everyone takes sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.”
Advice from UKHSA includes:
Keep homes cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun
Stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm
Wear suitable clothing, hats and sunglasses, and apply sunscreen regularly
Plan physical activity for cooler parts of the day
Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke
Check live fuel prices near you before you set off.
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