Dr Oscar Duke has warned people to follow his ‘four-hour 11am rule’ as Met Office amber warnings in place
A BBC medic has urged the public to follow the ‘four-hour’ rule as the mercury soars to 35C amid this week’s scorching heatwave. Speaking on BBC Morning Live today, Dr Oscar Duke warned the blistering temperatures could seriously affect the body – and advised people to stay indoors during the hottest part of the day.
The thermometer is expected to climb to 36C across parts of England, prompting an amber heat health alert until 9pm on Sunday across the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England and London. During the same timeframe, a yellow alert from the Met Office and UK Health Security Agency covers the North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber.
This indicates officials are worried about increased mortality rates, especially amongst those aged 65 and above or individuals with existing health conditions. Younger demographics may also be affected.
Health services will face additional strain, while infrastructure issues including transport disruption are probable.
Dr Duke stressed that people must take preventative measures, including staying inside between 11am and 3pm. He informed presenters Helen Skelton and Rav Wilding: “So just trying to do the simple things. Fans if it’s under 35 degrees they’re going to help with all of that convection and cooling you want to try and avoid doing strenuous activity in the middle of the day. Keep that 11 till 3 time, you know, your cooler time. Shut those blinds and the windows on those hot sides of the house where the sun’s coming in as well.”
Discussing the effects on the human body, he explained: “The big cooling system that we have comes from our blood vessels, the blood vessels on the skin all over the body. Those blood vessels which are relaxing all around the body, which get lots of heat off through the skin.
“That’s why you get red, you get hot, and then you’ve got sweat of course that comes in as well. That cooling as it evaporates. Actually, here when it gets very hot in this country, we often have quite a lot of moisture.
“The humidity is quite high within the air and that reduces the effectiveness of the sweat coming off. So that’s why when it gets particularly hot on a moist day, you feel even more hot because your sweat function is not so effective. Thinking about your organs, all of these things diverting the blood flow out to your skin, then your heart is having to pump harder to keep that blood flow going.”
Dr Duke warned people must pay close attention to monitoring one particular area. He stated: “A lot of the problems and the serious conditions and a lot of the death that happens around the time of heat waves comes from cardiac problems rather than you know heat stroke per se.
“Your kidneys also getting a bit less blood. It’s doing a bit less filtering. Particularly if you then get dehydrated, it’s not getting enough blood and fluid coming to it to really filter and do its job properly.
“You can get kidney injury as well. So that can be very serious. And one of the main reasons that keeping hydrated is so important. All the go down to the lower part of your body to your legs swelling those blood vessels relaxing lets bit of fluid leak out into the tissue that’s why you might have bit puffy legs puffy feet in these hot climbs so lots of things that happen in your body and you we really need to help our bodies to try and contain that temperature.”
Fire officials have issued warnings about the growing threat of wildfires as Britain swelters in its third heatwave of the year.
Health and fire alerts have been released as temperatures in certain regions could climb as high as 36C this week.
South-east England officially satisfied the heatwave criteria on Monday evening following three consecutive days of temperatures exceeding 28C, the Met Office confirmed, with additional areas likely to meet their thresholds in the days ahead.
The heat is anticipated to reach its peak on Thursday and Friday when temperatures will “widely exceed 30C” throughout Britain and some parts of England could touch 36C, the forecaster stated.
Scotland and Northern Ireland might experience highs reaching 28C on Friday and temperatures in the mid-20s during the weekend.
On Wednesday, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) highlighted the escalating wildfire risk due to the arid and scorching conditions, urging people to refrain from using disposable barbeques in open countryside, parks and moorlands. Dave Swallow, the NFCC’s wildfire deputy lead and lead tactical adviser, explained: “Hot, dry weather can significantly increase wildfire risk, but most wildfires start because something provides the spark. “Whether it is a disposable barbecue left behind, a discarded cigarette or even a glass bottle left in the sunshine, we all have a role to play in preventing them.
“Summer should be a time for people to enjoy the outdoors, but it’s important not to underestimate the risks. Every year we see devastating wildfires and tragic drownings in inland water.
“As more schools break up for the summer holiday, we’re asking people to enjoy the warmer weather safely, look out for one another and take simple steps to help prevent avoidable tragedies.”
