As reported by the Telegraph, a heatwave has forced some schools to close as Britain prepares for record 41C temperatures
Britain will grind to a standstill this week, with trains across the country to be cancelled and people told to consider staying at home.
Schools in several counties, including Nottinghamshire and Hampshire, confirmed that they would close for two days following the health alerts. Others have reduced hours amid Met Office warnings that temperatures will surpass 40C in some areas.
Some GP surgeries have already closed and hospital bosses have warned that the extreme weather has made it difficult to keep services running.
Railway lines have imposed speed restrictions, with both the train operators and Highways England warning people not to travel.
The Met Office has warned that “in general” it would be safer for people to stay indoors.
The UK’s has issued a “national emergency” and the first red extreme heat warning covering much of England from London to Manchester on both Monday and Tuesday.
Tracy Nicholls, the chief executive of the College of Paramedics, warned that the “ferocious heat” could kill people.
The deputy prime minister, Dominic Raab, said the country should be resilient and urged people to “enjoy the sunshine”, while also taking the “common sense” precautions.
David Davis, a senior Tory backbencher, said: “Obviously, if you’re at risk, if you’re a young child or elderly or you have some other condition, take care and obviously use hats and sunscreen and use the shade. But people exist in Mediterranean climes and handle it. So, if we use common sense we can do the same”.
NHS hospitals and GP premises will be put to the test. Hospital bosses claimed a lack of investment has caused parts of the health service to cancel appointments or move patients to better-equipped facilities.
The general advice has been for the public to do “as little as possible” to avoid heat exhaustion, given that there is a 90% chance that the UK record of 38.7C will be broken.
The likelihood that temperatures will hit 40C has also increased from 50% to 60%.
Britons are being urged to stay inside from 11 am to 4 pm, prepare adequately (har, suncream etc.) and drink plenty of water.
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