As temperatures soar this week this UK – allegedly hitting 35 degrees in London today, Public Health England urges people to look out for those who may feel the ill-effects of hot weather during this prolonged spell of high temperatures. The met office may even declare a level 3 heatwave which means “people should be aware of the actions to protect themselves from the possible health effects of hot weather, and social and healthcare services are advised to take specific actions that target high-risk groups.”
A Met Office spokesman said: “Although temperatures are expected to dip slightly on Thursday, we are confident they will rise again from the South on Friday and Saturday. It looks like warm and humid spells of weather could continue into next week with temperatures remaining above average in places throughout this period.”
Although many of us will be enjoying the unusually hot weather, there are many people with chronic health conditions for whom this period can be a nightmare. Dr Angie Bone, Head of Extreme Events at PHE, said:
“In this continued hot weather, it’s important to remember that high temperatures can be dangerous, especially for people who may be vulnerable such as older people, young children and those with serious illnesses. “During very hot weather, pregnant women and people who have chronic illnesses, including cardiovascular, respiratory, renal conditions, diabetes or Parkinson’s disease, may experience discomfort if indoor temperatures are particularly hot and in using public transport. Employers should ensure indoor areas are kept cool and consider allowing these individuals to travel to or from their place of work during cooler, or less busy times of the day. For those working or exercising outdoors, strenuous physical exertion during the hottest part of the day should be kept to a minimum.
“The key message for healthy individuals is to follow public health advice on how to enjoy the sun safely by staying cool, drinking lots of cold fluids and checking on those you know are at risk.”
Although this extreme weather is a rarity in the UK it demonstrates how digital monitoring devices can not only help ourselves keep a check on our health but more importantly keep a check on those who are more vulnerable. From remote vital signs monitoring to checking fluid intake and body temperature are all applications for digital health technology that will one day be standard for the population – and that can only be a good thing for patients and healthcare providers.
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