A YELLOW heat weather warning has been issued for the Midlands, with temperatures set to soar later this week.
The alert, issued jointly by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office, came into force this morning (Monday) and remains in place until late Thursday afternoon.
Temperatures are expected to spike at 31C (87F) in parts of the country over the coming days, with “many places” due to see the thermometer reach the mid-20Cs (77F).
The Met Office says in some areas there is the likelihood of a heatwave – which occurs when temperatures go above a set threshold for three days in a row.
This means that the vulnerable and those who are at-risk are more likely to suffer in the heat and could become seriously ill with health complications.
The following advise has been issued to stay safe in the sun and heat:
- Try to stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm (the hottest part of the day)
- Apply sunscreen generously and re-apply frequently, especially after activities that remove it, such as swimming or towelling. The NHS recommends that this should be with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30, and 4 or 5 star ultraviolet A (UVA) protection
- Take a bottle of water with you when out and about and especially when travelling by car or public transport.
- Ensure that babies, children or elderly people are not left alone in stationary cars.
- Have cool baths or showers and splash yourself with cool (but not very cold) water or place a damp cloth on the back of your neck to cool down.
- Identify the coolest room in the house so you know where to go to keep cool. Try to sleep in the coolest room too.
- Give pets plenty of clean, fresh water to drink and a cool and shady place to rest.
Contact your doctor, a pharmacist or NHS 111 if you are worried about your health or someone else’s health, especially if you are taking medication, if you feel unwell or have any unusual symptoms.
