Government 'to recommend siestas' to combat heatwaves

Telegraph (UK): People in areas hit by extreme heat will be advised to stay indoors during hottest time of the day – between 11am-3pm - swap suits for casual loose-fitting clothes, avoid hot food, drink lots of water and use fans. The alert was prepared by the Department of Health, in consultation with other agencies including the Met Office.

Met Office scientists have predicted that climate change means heat waves will become more frequent over the next two decades, becoming regular after 2030. The highest temperature measured in the UK was 101.3F (38.5C), recorded at Faversham in Kent on August 10, 2003 – but the Met Office warns this may be a normal summer temperature in 70 years.

On Friday, the Met office hosted a private conference for governmental agencies and public health experts, to discuss the emergency plan. A national response centre, overseen by the Cabinet and similar to the "Cobra" system that already handles major national emergencies, could be set up to co-ordinate a response should an extreme heatwave occur.

The new Heatwave Plan, to be published later this year, will also focus on residential and nursing homes for the frail elderly who are particularly at risk from prolonged heat. Wayne Elliott, head of health forecasting at the Met Office, said: "The heatwave that hit France in 2003 caused an extra 35,000 deaths. "Such events are likely to happen more often and become longer and more extreme as climate change takes hold."…

Wilhem von Gloeden, "Greek siesta". From an Italian magazine called "Varietas", from July 1910.