Amber heat alert issued for Sussex as temperatures set to soar again
An amber heat-health alert has been issued for Sussex, as forecasters warn of continued rising temperatures.
The alert, covering the South East, comes into force at 9am on Wednesday, July 8, and remains in place until 9pm on Sunday, July 12.
Issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the amber alert warns that hot weather is likely to have significant impacts on health and social care services, particularly for older people, those with existing health conditions and other vulnerable groups.
The agency said the heat could lead to a rise in deaths, especially among people aged 65 and over, while hospitals, care homes and other health services may experience increased demand.
Other potential impacts include overheating in hospitals, care homes and people's homes, difficulties managing medicines, pressure on staff and transport services, and an increased risk of water-related incidents such as cold-water shock and drowning.
Amber alerts have also been issued for the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London and the South West.
Meanwhile, yellow heat-health alerts are in place for the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the North West.
Health officials are advising people to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged periods in direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day, keep homes as cool as possible and check on elderly neighbours, relatives and anyone who may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of the heat.
Nathan Cross, head of prevention at West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: “We know that the people will want to enjoy this exceptionally warm weather and make lots of memories outdoors with their loved ones.
“However, it is important that this is done safely as during periods of dry and sustained warm weather, the chance of wildfires spreading rapidly is high. Being a predominantly rural county, we have a lot of countryside and green spaces that need protecting.
“We are urging people to play their part in preventing devastating incidents from happening.
“Already we have seen many news articles about people who have died after getting into trouble in open water during the previous two heatwaves. Please familiarise yourselves with the RNLI’s Float to Live video, and share this with young family members too, as it really is life-saving information.”
The UKHSA's weather health alerts are designed to help health and care services prepare for periods of extreme weather that could affect public health.