The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has shared an important update for people living in areas of the UK issued with a ‘Red’ weather warning for the start of this week. Temperatures of 40C have been forecast for parts of England and the Met Office has issued the first ever Red warning for exceptional heat.
The Red Extreme heat national severe weather warning will cover Monday, July 18 and Tuesday, July 19 for parts of central, northern, eastern and southeastern England. An Amber Extreme heat warning has also been issued for large parts of Scotland and west Wales.
As a result, DWP has announced that jobcentres and health assessment offices in areas issued with a Red severe weather warning will be closed, however, benefit payments will be made as normal. DWP said: “We will make every effort to contact everyone who has an appointment on one of those days to have it over the telephone or to rearrange, so they need not contact us or worry about their claim.”
DWP also said that telephony enquiry lines will be open as usual. Numbers to call can be found on the GOV.UK website, here.
The Scottish Government Resilience Room (SGoRR) remains in operation as the Met Office Amber warning of extreme heat extends to more parts of Scotland next week.
The warning has been extended further northeast to Dundee. This means that all of Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife, Perth, Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and eastern parts of Lanarkshire are all now included in the warning, as well as the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway.
The warning is valid until 11.59pm on Tuesday, July 19 19 July.
The Scottish Government’s resilience minister Keith Brown said: “We are aware of the extension to the weather warnings currently in place and are receiving regular updates from partners including the Met Office and emergency services.
“Our resilience arrangements have been activated and stand ready at all times to co-ordinate a response to severe weather issues where required. We will continue to closely monitor developments.
“When temperatures increase, it’s important to monitor forecasts and follow public health advice, including staying hydrated and drinking plenty of fluids and avoiding excess alcohol.
“I would also urge people to look out for vulnerable family, friends and neighbours, as older people, those with underlying conditions and those living alone may struggle to keep cool and hydrated.”
How to cope with extreme heat
The Met Office has warned that some people are likely to experience some adverse health effects including sunburn or heat exhaustion - dehydration, nausea, fatigue - and other heat related illnesses.
For guidance people should:
- stay indoors or shaded when the sun is at its hottest (11am - 3pm)
- drink plenty of cool fluids throughout the day
- eat cold foods with high water content such as salads and fruit
- take a cool shower, bath or body wash
- sprinkle water over skin or clothing, or keep a damp cloth on the back of your neck
- avoid alcohol - which can leave you dehydrated
- avoid extreme physical exertion
If someone is showing signs of heat exhaustion - headache, feeling confused or dizzy, rapid pulse or fast breathing, body cramps (particularly in the arms, legs and stomach), feeling sick or vomiting - they need to be shaded from the sun and cooled down.
Heat exhaustion is not normally serious if the person is treated within 30 minutes and symptoms begin to improve.
Ensure that babies, children or older people are not left alone in stationary cars or other closed spaces. Animals should not be transported in extreme temperatures.
The Met Office is also warning of an increased risk of wildfires and disruption to transport.
To keep up to date with the most-read money stories, subscribe to our newsletter which goes out three times each week - sign up here.
