Urgent warning over little known killer that ‘soars 70%’ in heatwaves
AN expert has warned of a little known killer during heatwaves ahead of a scorcher next week.
Drowning is more likely to occur when the sun is shining because people believe the water is also warm.
Even those who consider themselves strong swimmers can drown in the sea, rivers or lakes due to cold shock.
Studies suggest drownings increase by 70 per cent during a heatwave.
Last year, 277 people died as a result of accidental drowning. according to the Local Government Association (LGA).
It's an increase in 23 deaths (36 per cent) from the previous year.
Professor Mike Tipton, who has an MBE for his research in extreme environments, told The Sun: “Unfortunately, I suspect there'll be a peak in immersion accidents and drowning if we get another heatwave.
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“Some will still be unaware of the risk of cold shock on sudden immersion and what to do about it.
“Because of the physical differences between air and water, air heats up really quickly in early summer, but water takes time.
“Seawater and inland waters get to their warmest around September. So at the moment, the sea around where I am, is at about 14C, but the air temperature is up in the mid 20s.”
Temperatures of 15C are half that of typical swimming pools heated to 30C. The average temperature of UK and Irish waters is 12C.
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Prof Tipton said: “The response to sudden cold water immersion can cause a range of physiological responses (gasping, hyperventilation) that can quickly result in drowning.
“There is also a sudden increase in blood pressure and the strain placed upon the heart that can result in heart problems.”
Prof Tipton, of the Extreme Environments Laboratory at the University of Portsmouth, said more than half of cold-water deaths occur within the first minutes of immersion.
He said when the skin suddenly cools down, it stimulates the ‘cold shock’ response.
Trouble in water: What to do
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) says if you find yourself in difficulty in water, float.
Follow these steps:
- Fight your instinct to thrash around.
- Lean back, extend your arms and legs.
- If you need to, gently move them around to help you float.
- Float until you can control your breathing.
- Only then, call for help, swim to safety or continue floating until help arrives.
If you see someone else in trouble in the water, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.
Cold water shock, which peaks in the first 30 seconds of immersion, takes the air out of the lungs.
“It includes a ‘gasp’ response, hyperventilation, hypertension and increased cardiac workload,” Prof Tipton said. “These can be precursors to drowning and cardiovascular issues.
“There is a significant possibility of aspirating [breathing in] water during initial immersion when conscious control of breathing has been lost.”
After the skin, the nerves and muscles can seize up and fail to work properly in response to the cold, which can make swimming harder.
Hypothermia is more likely to occur over a longer period of time when the water is not freezing.
Prof Tipton said around a fifth of those that die following immersion in cold water do so during rescue.
“Drowning can occur up to six hours after leaving the water,” he said.
A 10 day heatwave, starting this weekend, will see temperatures hit 31C next week.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office have issued a level 2 heat-health alert warning, which will be in place from Monday to Friday and covers the East of England, South East and London regions.
Cllr Nesil Caliskan, of the LGA, which represents councils across England and Wales, said: “In a heatwave, one of the first things people do is flock to their local bathing spot to cool off.
"What might look like a safe place to take a dip or have a swim could in fact be a danger.
“Our advice is to brush up on your water safety skills and always swim in water that is clearly marked as safe and under the control of a lifeguard.
"Swimming in unknown water could lead to tragic consequences.”
Hot weather can lead to serious illness if people don’t take precautions, including drinking more water and taking breaks from the sun.
Prof Tipton said over the course of a heatwave, there'll be about 1,500 to 2,000 excess deaths, the majority in the first couple of days.
"The vast majority of those that die are over the age of 65 and their deaths are caused more by the stress that the heat puts on their cardiovascular system," said Prof Tipton.
Meanwhile, people who live with asthma have been urged to take precautions as 64 per cent are triggered by changes in the weather.
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Emma Rubach, Head of Health Advice at said strong sunshine causes the level of ozone and other air pollutants in the atmosphere to rise, which can trigger symptoms.
Some 3.4million could experience a deadly attack or see an exacerbation of symptoms such as breathlessness, wheezing and coughing as the temperatures go up.