NHS Direct: So far, so good for heatwave

The medical director of NHS Direct, the multimedia advice service of the NHS, has reported it is “so far, so good” as the public deals with the current heatwave.

With the Met Office declaring that yesterday was the hottest July day ever recorded, Dr Mike Sadler told BBC One’s Breakfast programme that it was still vital patients took precautions against the dangers of taking in too much sun.

He remarked: “So far so good, but I think the key time is to come, potentially the hottest day of the year still to come.”

“Three key messages have to be pushed home: avoid the heat, drink regularly, seek further advice if you are unsure,” he added.

Doctors will be keen not to see a repeat of the 2003 heatwave, when approximately 900 mainly elderly people are thought to have died as a result of the conditions.

According to the BBC, France yesterday reported nine heatwave-related deaths, while a walking event in the Netherlands had to be cancelled after two participants died of heatstroke.

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