COBRA meeting as it's a bit hot
Discussion
They've called a COBRA meeting because the weather really is quite warm at the moment.
https://www.nationalworld.com/news/weather/heatwav...
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/u...
Apparently this could be a Level 4 Emergency!
I've put shorts on.
https://www.nationalworld.com/news/weather/heatwav...
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/u...
Apparently this could be a Level 4 Emergency!
I've put shorts on.
TGCOTF-dewey said:
Well done you, but other more fragile folks... Those with health issues... might need additional support when it hits 40 degrees. Hence why they're meeting.
Like a sun hat, glass of water etc. Really you can manage with the heat blinds a fan water what else do you needTGCOTF-dewey said:
Well done you, but other more fragile folks... Those with health issues) might need additional support when it hits 40 degrees. Hence why they're meeting.
Folks need additional support in the winter, through cheaper energy. If we could find some way of increasing winter ambient temperatures that would be great too.Cold is the big killer, and not extreme cold, just plain/boring cold.
TGCOTF-dewey said:
Well done you, but other more fragile folks... Those with health issues... might need additional support when it hits 40 degrees. Hence why they're meeting.
Fair point. But isn't simply sitting in a cool or Luke warm bath an idea? It's a lot easier and cheaper to cool off than to warm up I'd say? Timothy Bucktu said:
Fair point. But isn't simply sitting in a cool or Luke warm bath an idea? It's a lot easier and cheaper to cool off than to warm up I'd say?
That would work, but a lot of the most at-risk people such as the elderly and the disabled are unable to get into (or out of) a bath. i don't think the COBRA meeting is trying to work out how to help people cool down, it is working out how to treat the more numerous incidents of sunburn, heat stroke and dehydration in already overcrowded hospitals.
Ari said:
How did we ever manage before the government stepped in to save us from a sunny day?
When did we last have 40C+ temperatures? Our infrastructure simply isn’t designed to deal with it. Our houses are built to retain heat, our streets are not designed to shade people, AC is not ubiquitous, our roads are not paved with materials designed for these temperatures, our railways are not designed for this level of rail expansion. When our infrastructure was designed we simply didn’t have weather this hot or this sustained.Rather than reply individually...reasons why COBRA has met.
Or would folks rather they just winged it?
- Increased welfare checks by already stretched NHS staff. Who funds this?
- Roads melting... Gritters getting deployed... Who funds this. Not on LA budget.
- Huge increase in fire risk for large swathes of moorland and forest. Need to put ES on high alert.
- Shortage of portable water... Hose pipe bans etc.
- Heat effects to infrastructure - lots of aging kit never designed to operate in 40+ temps.
Or would folks rather they just winged it?
TGCOTF-dewey said:
Well done you, but other more fragile folks... Those with health issues... might need additional support when it hits 40 degrees. Hence why they're meeting.
It's not just 1 day of 40°, it's sustained days of high temperatures in a country where everything is designed for cold weather. We're not just talking about the typical effects of hot weather like heat stroke, dehydration and severe burns (how many Brits can identify, let alone treat the symptoms of heat stroke) but the knock on effects like additional drownings, increased alcohol consumption (which makes the dehydration and heat stroke worst) and increased violence and antisocial behaviour.
It is best to put mitigating measures in place before the pressures start to rise.
You can't fix it by asinine and stupid suggestions like "put on a hat". Then again when I read stuff like that I'm reminded of what the great Ron White said.
Ron White said:
You can't fix stupid... There's not a pill you can take, or a class you can go to.
Whilst it's a good idea for the govt to plan for this kind of stuff... I have zero confidence in this governments ability to pour water out of a boot with instructions on he heel. Electro1980 said:
Ari said:
How did we ever manage before the government stepped in to save us from a sunny day?
When did we last have 40C+ temperatures? Our infrastructure simply isn’t designed to deal with it. Our houses are built to retain heat, our streets are not designed to shade people, AC is not ubiquitous, our roads are not paved with materials designed for these temperatures, our railways are not designed for this level of rail expansion. When our infrastructure was designed we simply didn’t have weather this hot or this sustained.We can all laugh about a COBRA meeting being called because it's 'a bit warm', but when it approaches 40c in the UK, people die and things start to fall apart, break, and stop working. It can severely impact business, healthcare, transport, and all kinds of industry.
Generally, I have little faith in our government to do anything particularly useful, however I can see the sense in them meeting to discuss the damage that will occur from the heat.
captain_cynic said:
It's not just 1 day of 40°, it's sustained days of high temperatures in a country where everything is designed for cold weather.
Why do around 6 times as many people die from cold weather in a country where everything is designed for just that? Do COBRA meetings take place when it is 2C and cloudy?anonymous said:
[redacted]
Their infrastructure and culture are completely different to ours. Buildings are either built with air con or specifically designed to keep air moving through and stay cool. People don't tend to work through the hottest part of the day. People native to hot places are genetically predisposed to managing hot weather better.Also Spain and Portugal are struggling with the temps just now.
It'll get hot for a couple of days (mainly in the SE), Sun will run a photo of skimpy lass in a bikini getting cooled off in a fountain, most folk will enjoy having what they usually have to pay for in Spain, then we'll all get back to normal and focus on the Tory leadership election.
BBC and others will be willing the mecury to break the 40 barrier, Laura Tobin will get excited, wear a different frock with a large sun on it and use it as clear evidence of a climate catastrophy. Meanwhile life will go on and folk will complain about the cost of fuel and food prices.
BBC and others will be willing the mecury to break the 40 barrier, Laura Tobin will get excited, wear a different frock with a large sun on it and use it as clear evidence of a climate catastrophy. Meanwhile life will go on and folk will complain about the cost of fuel and food prices.
Lotobear said:
It'll get hot for a couple of days (mainly in the SE), Sun will run a photo of skimpy lass in a bikini getting cooled off in a fountain, most folk will enjoy having what they usually have to pay for in Spain, then we'll all get back to normal and focus on the Tory leadership election.
BBC and others will be willing the mecury to break the 40 barrier, Laura Tobin will get excited, wear a different frock with a large sun on it and use it as clear evidence of a climate catastrophy. Meanwhile life will go on and folk will complain about the cost of fuel and food prices.
Depressingly accurate summary there.BBC and others will be willing the mecury to break the 40 barrier, Laura Tobin will get excited, wear a different frock with a large sun on it and use it as clear evidence of a climate catastrophy. Meanwhile life will go on and folk will complain about the cost of fuel and food prices.
Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff