Red weather warning 'not to be taken lightly'

The highest level 4 Health Security Agency health alert for all of England has been declared by the Government

Oldham Council have urged residents to 'act responsibly' following the red warning for exceptional heat early next week, which could see the mercury burst through 40C barrier in the region.

The Met office, along with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), has upgraded its warning for Monday and Tuesday next week for much of the country, including Greater Manchester from amber to red, warning of ‘extreme heat’.

Forecasters expect ‘population-wide’ health effects, which will affect not just those most vulnerable to extreme heat and ‘lead to serious illness or danger to life’. Authorities said there is a risk of heat-sensitive systems and equipment overloading, potentially causing power loss to essential services such as water and mobile phone services, while speed limits are likely to be imposed on railways to protect tracks.

The highest level 4 Health Security Agency health alert for all of England has been declared by the Government. The ten borough and city councils in Greater Manchester have been told to implement the ‘Heatwave plan for England’ which aims to protect health and reduce harm from severe heat.

It recommends a series of steps to reduce the risks to health from prolonged exposure to severe heat for the NHS, local authorities, social care, and other public agencies. Council leaders in the region encouraged residents to be extra aware of the potential effect fo extreme heat on vulnerable neighbours.

An Oldham Council spokesperson, said: “Over the next few days we are expecting higher than average temperatures for this time of year and the Met Office has today issued the first-ever red warning for extreme heat early next week.

“This warning, which comes into force on Monday and Tuesday, is not to be taken lightly and we must act responsibly as these conditions are serious and can sadly be life threatening, especially for our most vulnerable residents.

"We must ensure those closest to us are okay and have everything they need during this extreme heat, so whether it’s checking in on our elderly neighbours or helping those who are most vulnerable to keep cool, our actions go a long way in keeping people safe.

“If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulty during this weather, please call 999 in an emergency and 111 in a non-emergency.”

Oldham Council's First Response Team can be contacted on 0161 770 2222.

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