Heatwave contingency plans published
The Chief Medical Officer has today published a contingency plan for coping with the health effects of a major summer heatwave.
Sustained periods of hot weather over the UK and much of northern Europe last year have lead the Government to the conclusion that preparations for dealing with a heatwave are now a vital part of national resilience planning.
According to the Department of Health, between August 4 and 13, 2003, the height of last year’s exceptional weather, there were over 2,000 “excess deaths” – a term more familiar in relation to the cold of winter than the heat of summer.
Under the plans, a four-stage response scheme will be put into operation between June 1 and September 15, which will escalate depending on the temperature.
Level 1 activates the issue of advice of the heat effects on health and practical advice on keeping cool. Level 4 would be in used in an emergency where the severity or duration of the heatwave poses serious dangers to health.
The trigger points for the “Heat-Health Watch” will depend on the region: the “Heat-Health Watch” arrangements will come into effect in London when daytime temperatures reach 32 degrees Celsius, down to 28 degrees in the North East.
Leaflets on the scheme are being sent today to GP practices, Pharmacies, NHS Walk-in centres, Citizens Advice bureaux, NHS Direct call centres, Hospitals, Health Promotion Units, Care Homes and some voluntary sector organisations.
Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson declared, “Having a heatwave plan ensures that the public and organisations who are involved in providing health and social care services know what actions to take should temperatures rise over a continued period.”
He added, ” Timely preventive measure can reduce excess deaths. In contrast to deaths associated with cold snaps in winter the risk in mortality follows very sharply, within one or two days of the temperature rising. This means that by the time a heatwave starts the window of opportunity for effective action is very short indeed. It is therefore crucial that we are properly prepared for this situation.”
