Residents and visitors across the United Kingdom are being asked to stay indoors, as a 'ferocious' and life-threatening heatwave throughout the day and night is set to scorch Great Britain for the first time in history. Death Valley-type temperatures of 42C during the day and 30C at night are looming, doubling the UK summer average - which has even led to the Met Office issuing it's first ever 'red' warning.
In-turn, the public are being urged 'to do as little as possible' and try not to use public transport - prompting people to work from the safety of their own home where they can comfortably adjust the temperature with fans, air conditioning and other cooling measures. The Mirror reports that hospitals have cancelled appointments and many businesses have announced two-day closures, including a handful of restaurants, bars, zoos and wildlife centres - while millions opt to work from home.
Tracy Nicholls, chief executive of the College of Paramedics, has warned of a threat to life from the 'ferocious heat' expected across the UK over the next few days. Speaking to Sky News, Ms Nicholls said: "We could see people who are vulnerable, young people, elderly people, people living with dementia who really do suffer. This is serious heat that could actually ultimately end in people’s deaths because it is so ferocious.
Read more: Met Office issues new Amber weather warning for extreme heat covering most of North East
"We are just not set up for that sort of heat in this country. This isn’t like a lovely hot day where we can put a bit of sunscreen on, go out and enjoy a swim and a meal outside."
Recent figures have revealed that one in ten people waited in excess of 10 hours for an ambulance, and the average waiting times for a devastating heart attack were more than 50 minutes. "It’s difficult not to call it a crisis but it has been a stealth crisis," she added.
Ministers are expected to hold a fourth COBRA meeting after a national emergency was declared. Outgoing PM Boris Johnson didn’t attend the last meeting on Saturday and went to Chequers instead.
Labour's Angela Rayner blasted is choice of 'partying while Britain boils, describing him as 'grotesque'. He snubbed the meeting as one large water company supplying Essex warned 'urgent action' was needed - while others said they were closely monitoring the ongoing situation.
Deputy PM Dominic Raab has also been blasted for his comments on the heatwave, telling the public to 'enjoy the sunshine' on Sky News while health chiefs warned not to travel and to stay indoors if possible.
Many took to social media instantly to express their concerns, with one saying: "Dominic Raab...brushing off the impending record breaking, earth burning temperatures and saying people should ‘enjoy the sunshine’. Heaven help us all!"
Another added: “I vote to put @DominicRaab in an office with no air con during the heatwave so he can enjoy the summertime." Meanwhile, another said: “He should try enjoying it in a white suit, respirator mask and goggles while resuscitating someone’s Nan."
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