Five day 'heat health alert' covers Ilkley
- Nick
- 11 minutes ago
- 2 min read
A yellow heat health alert has been issued for the Ilkley area and whole of Yorkshire over the coming days.
The UK Health Security Agency’s [HKHSA] heat alerts are issued to give early warning to health and social care services, as well as carers and government departments when hot weather is likely to impact on people's health and wellbeing.
The UKHSA says the alert will be in effect from 12pm on Wednesday June 18th until 6pm on Sunday June 22nd. In Ilkley, the forecast is for 29°C by Saturday.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said:
“Our findings shows that even moderate heat can result in serious health outcomes, especially for older adults, and it is therefore important that everyone takes sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.
“The forecasted high temperatures are expected to be short-lived but could primarily impact those over the age of 65 or those with pre-existing health conditions. If you have friends, family or neighbours who are more vulnerable, it is important to check in on them and ensure they are aware of the forecasts and are following the necessary advice.’’
There are additional ways in which you can keep yourself and others safe during periods of hot weather, such as:
keeping your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun
if you do go outside, cover up with suitable clothing, such as an appropriate hat and sunglasses, and seek shade and apply sunscreen regularly
keeping out of the sun at the hottest time of the day, between 11am and 3pm
if you are going to do a physical activity (for example, exercising or walking the dog), plan to do these during times of the day when it is cooler, such as the morning or evening
knowing the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them
The UKHSA data dashboard provides the latest details on HHAs currently in place and their duration.
