Ed Hunter asked If your national weather service (Met Offic…

I don’t think it’s scaremongering. It’s going to hit 40 degrees in some parts of the UK. We’re not used to anywhere near that kind of temperature. Our homes and workplaces are not designed for it, and neither is our transport system. Virtually no one has air conditioning in their homes, and unless you happen to work in a modern shop or office, most don’t have air conditioning at work either. The majority of people will be hot and bothered but fine. A minority will suffer quite badly. A couple of years ago, I had to phone an ambulance for an elderly man who was sitting at a bus stop in the blazing sunshine wearing a vest, shirt, and thick jumper, with nothing to keep the sun off his head - and it was only about about 25/26 degrees. I asked his wife if he’d had anything to drink. She said he’d had a cup of tea with his breakfast - this was now lunchtime. (I’ve never figured out why older people won’t drink water.) The NHS is struggling as it is at the moment, don’t needlessly add to the burden by not following a few simple guidelines.

Penelope · 2y

I wouldn't take that as scaremongering, I see no reason to interpret it that way, but I wouldn't necessarily take any precautions either. I'm not elderly or extra vulnerable, and I don't spend much time out of the air-conditioned house anyway. My parents are elderly, I guess, so I might warn them not to go out if I think they didn't happen to hear the announcement.

inhahe · 2y

I’d definitely not go on a hike.

cLOUD · 2y

Given the precautions are common sense (windows open, blinds down, lots of water, sun cream and don't overexert yourself - especially when the sun is at its highest) - I am have no issue exercising common sense.

Pandy · 2y

It depends on how it was phrased. Is the above a direct quote?

LaDamaX · 2y

Pure scaremongering, but I wouldn't go running outside at 36 degrees at noon. Alerts of severe rain, in the other hand... will make me prepare for the "worst".

Arthur · 2y

Yeah if I cared about living I would definitely take precautions - we just had an ex-NFL player, 38, drop dead from heatstroke in his apartment last month, he kept his apartment hot to work out in, but that's what happens when you don't take that shit seriously

Ed Hunter · 7 answers · 2y