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How do cold and heat health alerts work? How do heat health alerts work?
(5 months later)
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a yellow cold-weather alert for parts of England from 09:00 GMT on Friday. Yellow heat health alerts have been issued for the north east, north west and Yorkshire and the Humber, meaning warnings are now in place across the whole of England.
Covering the North East, North West, Yorkshire and Humber and the South East, the alert will remain in place until 09:00 on Tuesday. The alerts - which mean high temperatures pose a potential health risk to vulnerable people - will remain in place until 10:00 BST on Tuesday 15 July.
It means the weather poses a greater risk to vulnerable people, which may place additional pressure on health services.
Cold snap in the UK forecast with chance of snow and ice
How does the weather health alert system work?How does the weather health alert system work?
The weather alert service warns the public in England when high or low temperatures could damage their health.The weather alert service warns the public in England when high or low temperatures could damage their health.
Run by the UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office, the system was introduced in June 2023., external The system is run by the UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office.
It includes both cold-health and heat-health alerts, external. It includes both heat health and cold health alerts
Cold-health alerts are typically issued between 1 November and 30 March, and heat-health alerts between 1 June and 30 September. Heat health alerts are issued between 1 June and 30 September, and cold health alerts are published between 1 November and 30 March.
As well as warning the public, the system sends guidance directly to NHS England, the government and healthcare professionals during periods of adverse weather.As well as warning the public, the system sends guidance directly to NHS England, the government and healthcare professionals during periods of adverse weather.
Alerts are categorised according to severity and include:Alerts are categorised according to severity and include:
headline weather conditions expected in the coming daysheadline weather conditions expected in the coming days
details of how weather conditions will affect each regiondetails of how weather conditions will affect each region
links to additional information, advice and guidancelinks to additional information, advice and guidance
The system was designed to help reduce illness and deaths by improving communication between the public and relevant bodies during periods of extreme weather. The system was designed to help reduce illness and deaths during periods of extreme weather.
Cold weather and health guidance and advice, external See current heat health alerts, external
See current weather-health alerts, external
Check the UK weather warnings in placeCheck the UK weather warnings in place
What does each level mean? When is a heatwave 'really' a heatwave?
What do the alert levels mean?
The level of alert is based on Met Office forecasts and data.The level of alert is based on Met Office forecasts and data.
There are four levels ranging from green (least severe) to red (most severe):There are four levels ranging from green (least severe) to red (most severe):
GreenGreen
Green is the normal level, when advice is given on how people should prepare to respond if temperatures rise or fall.Green is the normal level, when advice is given on how people should prepare to respond if temperatures rise or fall.
YellowYellow
Yellow alerts are issued during periods of hot or cold weather that are only likely to affect those who are particularly vulnerable, for example the elderly, or those with existing health conditions.Yellow alerts are issued during periods of hot or cold weather that are only likely to affect those who are particularly vulnerable, for example the elderly, or those with existing health conditions.
AmberAmber
Amber alerts are issued in situations that could potentially put the whole population at risk. The NHS may see increased demand on GPs and ambulances, for example.Amber alerts are issued in situations that could potentially put the whole population at risk. The NHS may see increased demand on GPs and ambulances, for example.
Travel disruption is also likely.Travel disruption is also likely.
RedRed
A red alert is the most severe.A red alert is the most severe.
It is issued in situations when hot or cold weather would be a significant risk to life, for even the healthy population, and could lead to failures of critical national infrastructure, such as power outages or roads and rail lines being closed. It is issued in situations when hot or cold weather would be a significant risk to life, even for the healthy population, and could lead to failures of critical national infrastructure, such as power outages or roads and rail lines being closed.
What does cold weather do to the body? What does hot weather do to the body?
Flu and certain other diseases that cause colds and sore throats spread more easily in the winter months. Pneumonia, when there is inflammation in the lungs because of an infection, is more common after cold weather. As the body gets hotter, blood vessels open up. This leads to lower blood pressure, and makes the heart work harder to push the blood around the body.
Cases of norovirus - the winter vomiting bug - tend to rise too. This can cause mild symptoms such as an itchy heat rash or swollen feet, as blood vessels become leaky.
Prof Damian Bailey, from the University of South Wales, made a programme for BBC Radio 4's Inside Health about the effects of cold on the body. At the same time, sweating leads to the loss of fluids and salt and, crucially, the balance between them in the body changes.
Presenter James Gallagher spent 30 minutes in a room where the air temperature dropped from 21C to 10C. This, combined with the lowered blood pressure, can lead to heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Symptoms include:
During the experiment, the blood flow to his brain fell, his blood pressure and heart rate increased, the temperature of his extremities - arms, legs and head - dropped, and he took significantly longer to complete a series of puzzles. dizziness
Wearing layered woollen clothing - especially hats and gloves - can help protect the body. nausea
Prof Bailey said 18C is the body's tipping point - below that and the body has to work hard to maintain its core temperature. That is one reason why heart attacks and strokes are more common in the winter months. fainting
When it is not possible to keep rooms heated to 18C, he recommends wearing gloves, warm socks and a woolly hat, eating a higher carbohydrate diet and generating more body heat by moving around. confusion
How to keep babies warm in cold weather and other winter tips muscle cramps
How to keep warm when budgets are squeezed headaches
What are cold weather payments and who can get them? heavy sweating
tiredness
If blood pressure drops too far, the risk of heart attacks rises.
What does hot weather do to the body?
What are UV levels and how can you protect yourself?
What should you look for when choosing sunscreen and how should you treat sunburn?
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What questions do you have about the heat?
Heatwaves: The New Normal?
How hot is too hot? From heat labs to firefighting helicopter pilots and wineries, we look at how extreme heat impacts people and environments in the UK.