Health warning as Britain basks in hottest temperatures of year
THE HOTTEST temperatures of the year, combined with Mediterranean levels of sunburn-producing ultraviolet radiation, led forecasters and medics to issue health warnings yesterday.
As the heat at Heathrow Airport rose to 31C at lunchtime – only two degrees short of 90F – sunseekers were advised to drink plenty of water and seek out the shade.
The Met Office says the ultraviolet index does not exceed eight in the UK and only rarely reaches that level, but meteorologist Alex Burkill said it would get up to nine in Devon and Cornwall.
“That’s about as high as it gets really in the UK,” he said.
“The sun is as strong as it gets at the moment because we’re so close to the solstice.
“We’ve got peak sun strength, clear skies, plenty of sunshine – the perfect ingredients for high UV.”
With similar or even higher temperatures expected today and tomorrow, the Health Minister, Jo Churchill, said simple steps could keep everyone safe. “Apply sunscreen regularly, stay hydrated, and protect your head from the sun,” she said.
Advice from the Met Office includes closing curtains in rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler, avoiding excess alcohol and dressing appropriately for the weather.
St John Ambulance said this could mean wearing light clothes to keep skin covered and protected in the sun, as well as wearing high-factor sunscreen.
Firefighters warned against lighting barbecues in the heat.
Bob Ward, at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change, said the increase in the “heat-health” alert level to “amber level three” might have come too late for the most vulnerable people.