Visits to NHS webpages have surged dramatically as people across the UK sought advice on staying safe during the record-breaking May heatwave. On Tuesday, both England and Wales recorded their hottest May day ever, with Kew Gardens reaching a provisional 35.1C and Cardiff Bute Park hitting 32.9C.
Heatstroke Advice Page Sees 40-Fold Increase
NHS England reported that the heatstroke advice page received 20,092 visits on bank holiday Monday, compared to just 488 the previous Monday. Over the entire weekend, the page garnered 36,724 hits. Similarly, the sunburn advice page saw 5,342 visits on Monday and 10,314 over the weekend.
Baby Safety Advice Surges by 3,500%
Parents also turned to the NHS for guidance on keeping their babies safe in the sun. Visits to baby first aid and sun safety tips pages jumped by nearly 3,500% on Monday, with 4,728 hits. Older people and babies are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses such as dehydration and heat exhaustion, which can lead to life-threatening heatstroke.
Heat Health Alerts Extended
Temperatures are expected to cool slightly in the coming days, but health officials have extended heat health alerts for 24 hours. The UK Health Security Agency confirmed that amber alerts remain in place for the South West, South East, London, East and West Midlands, and the East of England until 5pm on Thursday. Yellow alerts are in effect for the North West and North East.
Chief Nursing Officer Urges Caution
Duncan Burton, chief nursing officer for England, said: “While many enjoyed the rare treat of a sunny bank holiday, the soaring temperatures have been of real concern for many new parents, with a 3,500% increase in the number seeking NHS advice for how to keep their babies safe in the sun over the weekend. Temperatures are now starting to ease off, but there are still health alerts in place for several parts of the country until 5pm Thursday, so it’s vital that people stay on their guard if they’re looking after those who are vulnerable to the heat. Babies, children, older people and those with long-term conditions like diabetes or heart problems are at higher risk of heat exhaustion or heatstroke, so we’d urge people to take care and to check on their loved ones during these high temperatures. The NHS website has a range of useful information for young children of different age groups to help people keep their loved ones safe and avoid them becoming dehydrated.”
