Britons should take continental-style siestas to combat heat, says expert |
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Tue, 16 Aug 2005 00:35
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LONDON - A prominent scientist has said that Britons need to adapt to the changing climatic patterns and take adequate measures to ward off the ill effects of the scorching summer that has swamped the country this year.
Professor Bill Keatinge of the University College London who is an expert on the health hazards posed by heat said that Britons should consider making continental-style siestas a normal part of their lives to combat the adverse effects of the heat wave. It may be recalled that in 2003, Europe was hit by a massive heat wave and that 27,000 people died as a direct consequence of it.
Almost 2,000 deaths were reported from Britain in that year. Since then summers have become hotter, a pointer towards climate change. New research conducted under the aegis of the Met Office says that by the second half of the current century, heat waves such as the one in 2003 are going to be the norm rather than the exception.
Professor Keatinge says that certain lifestyle changes are needed to make sure that Britons adapt to the scorching conditions. "When it is really hot people need to take precautions, especially the elderly. This means avoiding physical exercise, staying out of the heat. Siestas are a good way of doing this, even in central Europe such as Germany they are becoming more common with people working later. It is a simple way of staying cool without installing air conditioning," Keatinge said. He added that people needed to fortify their bodies against the heat by eating and drinking more than usual.
The Met Office's climate research unit also conducted a study to analyze the effect of climate change on temperatures. This study has not yet been published according to the BBC. "2003 was a foretaste of thing to come if we carry on emitting greenhouse gases. It is likely to become the norm," said lead researcher Peter Scott. The study found that daytime temperatures could rise up to 104ºF on hot days making it imperative that people took some remedial measures to combat the heat.
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