{"id":63652,"date":"2024-07-26T11:37:02","date_gmt":"2024-07-26T10:37:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/?p=63652"},"modified":"2024-08-07T10:44:27","modified_gmt":"2024-08-07T09:44:27","slug":"yellow-heat-alert-issued-in-the-south-west-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/yellow-heat-alert-issued-in-the-south-west-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Yellow heat alert issued in the South West"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Updated: Monday 29 July 2024<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The UK Health Security Agency has extended the yellow heat health alert to 9am on Friday 2 August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Friday 26 July<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The South West region of England is under a yellow heat health alert, coming into force this coming Monday, 29 July at 9am through until 11pm on Wednesday 31 July. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued the yellow alert, indicating that weather conditions could pose a risk to those who are particularly vulnerable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Steve Brown, Devon\u2019s Director of Public Health, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cThe higher temperatures can be a risk to certain, more vulnerable groups in our community.&nbsp; Older people, and the very young, can find it more difficult to regulate their own temperatures when the weather outside is hot.  In some cases, people can become unwell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Other factors can also make people vulnerable, but there are simple steps that we can all take to keep ourselves, and friends and family, safe during these hotter spells, and I encourage people to familiarise themselves with the advice.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Who is vulnerable?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the UKHSA, there are certain factors that increase an individual\u2019s risk during hotter weather.&nbsp; These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>older people aged over 65 years<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>babies and young children under the age of 5 years<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>people with underlying health conditions, particularly heart problems, breathing problems, dementia, diabetes, kidney disease, Parkinson\u2019s disease or mobility problems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>pregnant women<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>people on certain medications<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>people with serious mental health problems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>people who are already ill and dehydrated (for example from diarrhoea and vomiting)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>people with alcohol or drug dependence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>people who are physically active and spend a lot of time outside such as runners, cyclists and walkers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>people who work in jobs that require manual labour or extensive time outside<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>people experiencing homelessness, including rough sleepers and those who are unable to make adaptations to their living accommodation such as sofa surfers or those living in hostels<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>people who live alone and may be unable to care for themselves<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What can we do to stay safe?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a few very simple things we can all to do stay safe when we experience very high temperatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>look out for those who may struggle to keep themselves cool and hydrated \u2013 older people, those with underlying conditions and those who live alone are particularly at risk<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>stay cool indoors by closing curtains on rooms that face the sun \u2013 and remember that it may be cooler outdoors than indoors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children or animals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>check that fridges, freezers and fans are working properly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>try to keep out of the sun between 11am to 3pm, when the UV rays are strongest<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>walk in the shade, apply sunscreen and wear a wide-brimmed hat, if you have to go out in the heat<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>avoid physical exertion in the hottest parts of the day<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>make sure you take water with you if you are travelling<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>take care and make sure to follow local safety advice if you are going into the water to cool down<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>check medicines can be stored according to the instructions on the packaging<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Heat exhaustion and heat stroke<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Heat exhaustion is not usually serious if you can cool down within 30 minutes. If it turns into heatstroke, it needs to be treated as an emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Heat exhaustion can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>a headache<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>dizziness and confusion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>loss of appetite and feeling sick<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>excessive sweating and pale, clammy skin<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>cramps in the arms, legs and stomach<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>fast breathing or pulse<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a high temperature of 38C or above<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>being very thirsty<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The symptoms are often the same in adults and children, although children may become floppy and sleepy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If someone is showing signs of heat exhaustion, they need to be cooled down. To do this you should:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Move them to a cool place<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Get them to lie down and raise their feet slightly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Get them to drink plenty of water. Sports or rehydration drinks are okay<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cool their skin \u2013 spray or sponge them with cool water and fan them. Cold packs around the armpits or neck are good, too<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stay with them until they\u2019re better. They should start to cool down and feel better within 30 minutes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You should call 999 if you or someone you are with is showing any of the signs of heatstroke:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>feeling unwell after 30 minutes of resting in a cool place and drinking plenty of water<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>not sweating even while feeling too hot<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a high temperature of 40C or above<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>fast breathing or shortness of breath<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>feeling confused<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a fit (seizure)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>loss of consciousness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>not responsive<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The NHS website has&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nhs.uk%2Fconditions%2Fheat-exhaustion-heatstroke%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cmike.bomford%40devon.gov.uk%7Cbc51dfd4094f42da5ac208dc952fb3e5%7C8da13783cb68443fbb4b997f77fd5bfb%7C0%7C0%7C638549279352074563%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=uj48EuLU0rN0rdB3D1En%2BZ6pRw9d5gvWVHi3wOfVT%2Fs%3D&amp;reserved=0\" rel=\"noopener\">more information on heat exhaustion and heat stroke.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":60401,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[106,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-63652","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adult-social-care","category-environment-and-climate-change"],"acf":[],"featured_image":{"ID":60401,"title":"sunshine and clouds News page","alt":"Blue sky with a bright sun and a few 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