00:00Malcolm Mistry is Assistant Professor in Climate and Geospatial Modeling at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
00:09Health risks are quite severe if we don't take some basic underlying precautions.
00:15And what do I mean by that?
00:18So there's a risk of getting dehydrated and suffering from heat exhaustion.
00:23So the common symptoms to begin with would be feeling dizzy, disoriented, muscle cramps, perspiration.
00:34And with that, you slowly feel as if your body is not able to take the heat anymore.
00:42Your organs start to work extra to keep your body functioning.
00:50And this can lead eventually to a heat stroke, which is a much more serious condition and can lead to
00:57fatalities.
00:58So while it is very appealing to go out in the hot weather, enjoy the sunshine, some basic precautions need
01:06to be taken,
01:07such as remaining hydrated, taking rest as far as possible in indoor space or sheltered or in shade,
01:15and also avoiding strenuous activities, physical routines, these are just some basic precautions that one needs to take.
01:26And most importantly, taking care of the vulnerable people, looking after them, the aged, infants, children and so on.
01:33Well, let's pick up on that.
01:35I mean, I wonder what kind of pressure does a prolonged heat wave place on hospital, emergency services and our
01:43health care system?
01:46So a lot of the hospital and health care systems in the UK in particular do not have air conditioning
01:53at present.
01:53And this is also one of the findings of the experts who have recommended to the government that it's high
02:02time that the UK prepares itself for such heat waves,
02:06which are only likely to get more intense and frequent with climate change in the future.
02:11And these kind of health services are the sort of the main or the first point of contact for anybody
02:20suffering from heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
02:23And they are themselves, these centers are themselves not equipped currently with the kind of infrastructure and the facilities to
02:32allow for a mass intake of patients, for instance.
02:36and the public health for nations is highly focused on the system.
Comments