Britons are being urged to leave a bowl of water in the gardens during hot weather, and the piece of advice could be particularly pertinent on Sunday. A heatwave is expected to build over the weekend, peaking in the early part of next week, accoring to The Met Office.
Meteorologists have warned to expect temperatures of more than 30C in the south east or East Anglia on Sunday, June 29, with the mercury potentially rising even higher on Monday, which is forecast to be the peak of this heatwave. An amber heat-health alert has been issued by The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the East Midlands, South East, South West, London and the East of England until Tuesday, July 1, and a yellow alert is also in place for Yorkshire and Humber and the West Midlands. The alerts warn health and social care workers about the possibility of their services seeing significant impacts due to the weather, and it’s important to take steps to protect your health during periods of hot weather.
Both the UKHSA and the Met Office provide tips on staying cool in high temperatures, with the latter making a recommendation you might not have thought of.
In the national weather service’s guide for steps to take, which also includes looking out for older people and those with underlying conditions that may be more vulnerable, it also encourages Britons to think of the impact on local wildlife.
“Spare a thought for wild animals. Keep out bowls of water for wildlife such as birds and hedgehogs,” it writes.
It also offers various tips for pet owners, including not to exercise dogs “in the hottest parts of the day, especially older pets, flat-faced breeds or dogs with known heart or lung problems”, recommending sticking “to early morning or late evening walks”.
The Met Office says 2000 heat-related deaths every year in England on average, and while some poeple are at greater risk, anyone can be affected.
According to the government agency the main health risks presented by a heatwave are:
- not having enough water (dehydration),
- Overheating, which can exacerbate symptoms people who already have problems with their heart or breathing
- Heat exhaustion and heatstroke, two potentially serious conditions that can occur if you get too hot
You can find the UKHSA’s guidance for beating the heat and staying safe in hot weather here.