Warning issued as pensioners at increased 'risk' this weekend

A warning has been issued about the "increased risk" to pensioners this weekend as parts of the UK have been put under amber heat-health alertsas a result of a scorching heatwave. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) placed six regions under the second-highest alert, including the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, South West, London, and East of England, from today until 9am on Monday, July 14.

Amber alerts warn that there's an increased risk to health for those aged 65 or above and those with pre-existing health conditions. The wider population's health and the whole health service may be impacted under this heat warning, while yellow alerts mean only the most vulnerable are likely to be impacted. The North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber regions remain under a yellow heat-health alert. Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, urged people to check on older relatives and friends.

They urged everyone to take precautions in the sun because temperatures are predicted to rise above 30C across most regions of England, which can result in "serious health outcomes across the population".

Dr Sousa added: "Older adults or those with pre-existing health conditions are particularly at risk, so if you have friends, family or neighbours who are more vulnerable to these conditions, it is important to check in on them and ensure they are aware of the forecasts and are following the necessary advice."

Michael Loftus, UK Consumer Managing Director at Stiltz, backed up the advice, stating that high temperatures can pose a severe challenge to older people.

He added: "For those living alone or managing underlying health conditions, it's essential to take extra care as during a heatwave, everyday activities such as cooking, climbing stairs, or spending time in a warm room can put added strain on the body."

UKHSA advice encourages people to keep their home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun, and keep out of the sun at the hottest time of the day, between 11am and 3pm.

It also advises people to know the symptoms of heat exhaustion, which may include feeling tired, weak, faint, having a headache or muscle cramps, and feeling or being sick.

Heatstroke occurs when the body is no longer able to cool down and the temperature becomes dangerously high. In these cases, medical assistance should be sought immediately, and symptoms to look out for are confusion, lack of coordination, fast heartbeat, and seizures.