Heatwave health alert: Experts warn ‘deadly’ temperatures of 30C will trigger ‘hundreds’ of deaths in the UK this week

Hundreds of Brits are expected to die this week as the 33C heatwave hits England.

Climate and health experts told MailOnline the country must brace for another wave of excess deaths, similar to the 3,000 recorded in last year’s hot summer.

Although the temperature is not expected to come close to last season’s record high of 40°C, experts warn against underestimating how deadly temperatures above 30°C can be.

Those over 65, newborns and people with health problems such as heart or lung disease are considered most at risk.

However, healthy adults have also been warned that they could also be at risk, with the vast majority of England now under a “yellow” heat warning.

Health officials have issued a yellow heat warning for most of England, meaning the entire population is at risk of ill from high temperatures, not just those at risk

Joggers take a morning run on Primrose Hill, north London, just after sunrise today

Commuters cross London Bridge in hot and sunny weather in the capital this morning

A yellow warning means the entire population is considered at risk.

Only the north-east of the country was somewhat spared, with Britain’s Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issuing a “yellow” warning, meaning temperatures only pose a major risk to those at risk.

The six-day warning, which began yesterday and will continue until Sunday night, warns of higher mortality rates and a “significant impact” on vulnerable people and the NHS.

Vulnerable people were the main victims of last year’s five heatwaves. An additional 2,800 deaths were officially registered, mainly among those over 65.

Analysts said at the time that they had never seen such high excess mortality during heatwaves since records began nearly two decades ago.

dr Antonio Gasparrini, an expert in statistics and epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, warned that this heatwave would be no different and a rise in deaths was inevitable despite temperatures remaining below 40C.

“Heat-related mortality begins to increase well below such extreme temperatures and it is expected that there will be a noticeable increase in deaths even in the areas predicted for the current heatwave,” he said.

‘A surplus [of deaths] in the hundreds would not be surprising.’

dr Gasparrini said heat deaths gradually increase above a certain “optimal” temperature, around 18-20°C in the UK, before rising more rapidly as the heat increases.

But he said the true extent of the problem would only become apparent in the coming months when the deaths were officially recorded and analyzed.

dr Gasparrini added that while older people and those with existing health problems have rightly been highlighted as most at risk from the current heatwave, others should not be complacent.

“Increased risks are also noticeable in healthy and relatively young people,” he said.

However, he added that while tips on dealing with the heat, such as those issued by organizations such as the UKHSA, were welcome, more active projects such as improving Britain’s infrastructure were needed to keep the public cool.

Also Dr. Friederike Otto, a climate science expert at Imperial College London, predicted an increase in deaths from the heat in the coming days.

“Given the many poorly insulated homes and the fact that people are not used to temperatures above 30°C, an increase in excess mortality is unfortunately expected,” she said.

“Heat is deadly, people die in 30°C for the population and infrastructure in the UK. “People need to know this.”

Like Dr. Gasparrini urged young people not to think of themselves as “invincible” when faced with life-threatening heat.

Muscle cramps can also occur more frequently due to dehydration, as electrolytes and minerals that are vital for muscle function are lost through sweat. In hot weather, some parts of the body such as hands, feet and ankles may also swell. Heat causes blood vessels to dilate, which can cause fluid to leak into surrounding tissues and cause swelling called heat edema

Commuters throng the London Underground today during the heatwave, with temperatures expected to hit 32C in the capital today

The graph shows the number of daily deaths between June and August 2022 (red line), the five-year average of daily deaths (blue line) and heat wave periods (red bars).

“Staying outside in the sun, forgetting to stay hydrated, and living in polluted cities can cause anyone to develop heat stroke and other serious health problems.”

dr Otto urged Britons to not only look after themselves, but also to check on friends, family and neighbors at risk.

“If high temperatures are forecast, people should follow heat advisories from governments and local authorities, ensure they drink enough water and stay in cooler areas with shade or in cool buildings, especially during the warmest part of the day,” she said.

She also warned that the UK was not doing enough to prepare for extreme heat events, preparations that could reduce excess deaths.

“Our cities and homes are not built to withstand extreme heat,” she said.

“But it’s no secret what needs to be done, and transforming our cities to be more resilient to extreme weather also reduces emissions and benefits health and biodiversity.”

“It should be an absolute no-brainer to do this.”

A major concern is that many Britons could suffer from heat exhaustion.

This condition, caused by the body’s inability to cool down, can lead to dizziness, excessive sweating, and potentially fatal heat stroke.

People with circulatory or breathing problems that limit their ability to cool down are particularly at risk.

Brits with dementia are also at high risk as they may forget to stay hydrated during periods of high heat.

The experts’ dire predictions are based on fears that heat-related injuries and illness will put pressure on the already stretched NHS.

Health experts fear that large parts of the population, particularly older people and those with dementia, will be affected by heat-related illnesses – leading to increased demand for NHS services.

So is the NHS itself They are ill-equipped to handle mercury rises to these levels, and older buildings are not designed for the heat, leading some hospitals to close wards or cease operations.

The current heatwave has resulted in the UK’s autumn getting off to an unseasonably warm start, after a disappointing summer which saw the UK experience its sixth wettest July on record.