HSE / UKHSA - Level 4 heat-health alert: Public Health message on staff heat-risk and PPE

The Met Office has issued a level 4 Heat-Health Alert due to high temperatures from 0000hrs on Sunday, to the temperatures peaking on Monday and Tuesday. There is now a red alert for extreme temperatures from 0000hrs Monday 18^th to 2359hrs Tuesday 19^th July. Please see here for more information on the heat-health alert: Met Office extreme heat warning for 18th to 19th July.

This has raised concern as hospitals and other care settings in England are at risk of overheating in warm weather. During 2018 nearly 50% of NHS hospital trusts reported at least one incident of overheating, and 8% of trusts reported over 50 incidents.

This alert is to remind colleagues about the heat-risk for care staff whilst using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), in addition to working in warm/hot conditions.

Further information, staff heat-risk and actions can be found in the alert.

The NHS has issued advice for the public on how to cope in hot weather.

The World Health Organization has public health advice on preventing health effects of heat.