Health alert system aims to cut heatwave deaths
A new alert system will warn the public when high temperatures could damage their health this summer in England. Run by the UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office, it is aimed at reducing illness and deaths among the most vulnerable. Climate change is likely to make heatwaves more frequent. UK temperatures rose above 40C for the first time last summer, the country's fourth warmest, with Coningsby, Lincs, reaching a record 40.3C on 19 July. Last year was the UK's warmest - and this century has had 15 of the top 20, with all of the hottest 10 in the past two decades. The Heat Health Alert system will operate year-round, but the core alerting season will run from 1 June to 30 September. The system will offer regional information and advice to the public and send guidance direct to NHS England, the government and healthcare professionals. Individuals can sign up to receive alerts directly here , and people can specify which region they would like to receive alerts for. There will be four alert colours, with green indicating no risk to health: Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UK Health Security Agency, said the alert system would play "a vital role". "Last year saw record high temperatures across England and evidence shows that heatwaves are likely to occur more often, be more intense and last longer in the years and decades ahead," he said. "It is important we are able to quantify the likely impacts of these heatwaves before they arrive to prevent illness and reduce the number of deaths." Will Lang, from the Met Office, said the effects of human-induced climate change were already being felt on UK summers "with an increase in the frequency, duration, and intensity of extreme heat events over recent decades". The health alerts would help save lives, protect property and the economy "as we all work to tackle adverse weather and climate change", he said. UK heatwave broke dozens of records, new data shows 2022 was UK's warmest year on record Met Office forecasts 2023 will be hotter than 2022 A really simple guide to climate change Morocco rescuers dig with bare hands as foreign aid sent US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit 'Everyone in this village is either dead or missing' A Serbian scientist's long quest to name Srebrenica's dead How chronic pain feels for me. Video How chronic pain feels for me Guyana scrambles to make the most of oil wealth The spongy creatures cleaning Zanzibar's oceans. Video The spongy creatures cleaning Zanzibar's oceans Inside a 'hijacked' South African building. Video Inside a 'hijacked' South African building The rise and fall of a parenting influencer Florida's first hurricane-proof town The greatest spy novel ever written? Why is everyone crazy about Aperol? 2023 BBC.