Hot weather to continue in Shropshire over the weekend
The recent hot weather is set to continue in Shropshire this weekend with some parts of the UK expected to experience ‘heatwave’ conditions.
A level 2 'Heatwave' has been issued for Yorkshire and The Humber, South east England, London and South west England, East of England and East Midlands – but people in Shropshire should still follow guidelines on how to keep safe in the sunshine; seeking shade, using sunblock and wearing suitable clothing and sunglasses if outdoors for more than 20 minutes.
Level 2 alerts are triggered as soon as the Met Office forecasts that there is a 60 per cent chance of temperatures being high enough on at least two consecutive days to have a significant effect on health. This will normally happen two to three days before a heatwave is expected to occur. As most deaths occur in the first two days, this is an important stage at which to ensure readiness and swift action to reduce harm from a potential heatwave.
Whilst Shropshire temperatures are not expected to hit ‘extreme’ levels, Public Health England still advises people to keep safe in the sun, seek shade to cool down and keep hydrated with plenty of cool fluids.
West Midlands Ambulance Service prepares for busy weekend
West Midlands Ambulance Service is gearing up for another busy weekend. Last weekend call rates were up by well over a third putting pressure on the 999 service.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “Unfortunately, many of those calls were from conditions that could easily have been prevented.
“We received far too many 999 calls relating to sunburn, dehydration from not drinking enough water while out and about and heat stroke. All of these cases could have been avoided if some simple precautions had been taken.
“The hot weather adversely affects people with medical conditions such as asthma, bronchitis and allergies so we are urging patients to make sure they are prepared for the conditions by carrying inhalers and any other medication that they might need in an emergency.
“If we are dealing with avoidable calls, it means it could take us longer to get to people with genuine medical needs which, in some cases, could be life threatening.
“Our staff will all be working extremely hard to meet the demand but we’d ask people to think about how they can help us.
“It is vital that everyone takes their responsibility to look after themselves seriously. The heat affects everyone, but the young and elderly are particularly at risk. Please check up on friends, relatives and neighbours who may be less able to look after themselves.
“We live in a wonderful area with stunning scenery and loads to do outside. Please enjoy it, but enjoy it safely so that you don’t become an ambulance statistic.”
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service appeals for vigilance
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service is asking members of the public to remain vigilant following the recent fire at Grinshill.
The service said it provides an example of just how severe such fires can become in a short space of time. The recent warm weather has dried out this significantly increases the risk of fires.
They are asking people to avoid bonfires and be extremely careful with barbecues and discarded cigarettes.
