Pensioners born before 1960 hit with 30C heatwave warning

A warning has been issued to pensioners born before 1960 following a yellow heat health alert having been put in place across seven regions of England.

The UK Health Security Agency has this week put out heat health alerts from midday today, Wednesday June 18, until Sunday, June 22 at 6pm, due to the heatwave conditions.

It follows Met Office forecasts which show temperatures will gradually climb to 30C this weekend. And with the heat health alert, the UKHSA has issued a set of advice on how to stay cool in the hot weather, which includes guidance for older people in particular. The regions affected by the heat health alert are: East and West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England, Yorkshire and Humber, and London.

Although the UKHSA says that ‘anyone can become unwell’ in the hot conditions, those who are born in 1960 and the years before it - so 1959, 1958, 1957 and so on - are at the greatest risk during the hot weather.

That’s because those aged 65 and over are at a higher risk of becoming ‘seriously unwell’ during the temperatures we’re experiencing this week, as well as very young children under 5. It says that it has also changed its guidance to lower the risk age from 75 down to 65.

The UKHSA warns: Anyone can become unwell when the weather is hot. People who are at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell include older people aged 65 years and over (note change from previous guidance of 75 years of age and above), babies and young children aged 5 years and under.”

It also adds that those with underlying health conditions are also at greater risk, which includes conditions more common in older people.

It adds: “People with underlying health conditions particularly heart problems, breathing problems, dementia, diabetes, kidney disease, Parkinson’s disease, or mobility problems.”

The UKHSA is also urging people to spot the signs of heat exhaustion. It says: “Heat exhaustion occurs when the body overheats and cannot cool down. Heat exhaustion does not usually need emergency medical attention if you cool down within 30 minutes. If you do not take action to cool down, heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke.

"Common symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

• tiredness

"Heatstroke is where the body is no longer able to cool down and the body temperature becomes dangerously high.

"Common symptoms of heatstroke include:

• confusion

"Heatstroke is a medical emergency. If you think someone has heatstroke you should dial 999 and then try to cool them down.”