The most common reason people die in hot weather - not heatstroke
BBC journalist and former weather presenter Lara Lewington explained the greatest risk during hot weather - and it's not heatstroke
The UK is baking under a late June heatwave, with some areas set to see scorching 40-degree temperatures. The Met Office has issued red weather warnings for parts of England and Wales for today, Wednesday, and Thursday, while the UK Health Security Agency has issued its own red health warnings. Schools across the UK are closed, and temperatures could come close to the UK's all-time record of 40.3 degrees, recorded in Lincolnshire in July 2022, and are expected to smash the previous June record of 35.6 degrees, set in Hampshire in 1976.
BBC journalist and former weather presenter Lara Lewington explained the greatest risk during hot weather - and it's not heatstroke. She explained the issue in a video on TikTok.
She said: "Why do people die when the weather gets hot? The main reason isn't heat stroke or dehydration.
"There's another reason that accounts for more deaths in heatwaves, and that's heart failure. When you get hot, your body directs more blood towards your skin so that you can radiate some of the heat away.
"To do this, your heart has to beat harder and faster. And, for the elderly or those with pre-existing conditions, this can simply push their system to its limit, leading to an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, or heart failure.
"So as we head into the heatwave this week, make sure you stay hydrated, keep cool, and check in on any elderly or vulnerable relatives."
Which areas are affected by the red heat warning?
East Midlands
- Northamptonshire
East of England
- Bedford
- Cambridgeshire
- Central Bedfordshire
- Essex
- Hertfordshire
- Luton
- Thurrock
- Bracknell Forest
- Buckinghamshire
- East Sussex
- Greater London
- Hampshire
- Kent
- Milton Keynes
- Oxfordshire
- Reading
- Slough
- Surrey
- West Berkshire
- West Sussex
- Windsor and Maidenhead
- Wokingham
South West England
- Bath and North East Somerset
- Bristol
- Dorset
- Gloucestershire
- North Somerset
- Somerset
- South Gloucestershire
- Swindon
- Wiltshire
Wales
- Blaenau Gwent
- Bridgend
- Caerphilly
- Cardiff
- Carmarthenshire
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Monmouthshire
- Neath Port Talbot
- Newport
- Powys
- Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Swansea
- Torfaen
- Vale of Glamorgan
West Midlands
- Herefordshire
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands Conurbation
- Worcestershire
How to keep yourself safe during the heatwave
The government has issued these tips on coping during the hot weather:
- Avoid the sun when it is strongest, typically between 11am and 3pm. If you do have to go outdoors, apply high protection sunscreen regularly, wear a wide-brimmed hat and seek shade.
- Keep your home cool: keep windows and curtains closed in rooms that face the sun during the day. Open windows (if it is safe to) when the air feels cooler outside than inside, for example at night, and try to get air flowing through your home.
- Limit any strenuous physical activity, or plan physical activity for times of the day when it is cooler, like the early morning or evening.
- Avoid hot, closed spaces like stationary cars.
- Wear loose, light-coloured clothing made from breathable natural fabrics such as cotton or linen. Dark colours and synthetic materials absorb and trap heat.
- Stay hydrated throughout the day, not only when thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider rehydration drinks to replace lost electrolytes. Limit caffeine and alcohol, which contribute to dehydration.
- Spray or sponge your skin with cool water. Cold packs wrapped in a cloth and put under the armpits or on the neck can also help.
- Turn off non-essential electronics. TV, laptops and chargers generate heat.
