It is relentless!
By Gary Marsh
@garymarsh6 (23393)
United Kingdom
August 4, 2018 5:33pm CST
This week has been very hot indeed in fact I took the thermometer with me to work as the bus has been so horrible to travel on and the temperature on the bus was 38C which is far too hot for my liking. In fact I fell asleep for a few seconds just before I was due to get off.
Around Europe it has been even worse. The temperature today in Spain and Portugal has reached 46C or 115F. This is very extreme for our countries. I know that the Aussies are ridiculing the Brits for complaining about the heat but if it were like this all the time we would eventually acclimatise to it. But it is not like that here. One day it will be 30C the next 22 one day last week it was 34 and then dropped nearly 14 degrees. This fluctuation is what makes it so difficult for us.
It is nice if you are not working and having to race around but if you are unfortunate to be working it is a killer. There has been an increase in the number of elderly people admitted to hospital because of dehydration. Many will not drink as they do not want to keep getting up to go to the toilet so they drink less. This however causes them to become dangerously dehydrated to the point that it can affect major organs in the body.
Some are so dehydrated they have an acute Kidney injury and despite giving intravenous fluids they remain critically ill.
There will be an increase of deaths in the UK and throughout Europe due to the heat. It is not only winter that causes problems for the elderly but summer too.
Try to keep yourself well hydrated and cool in these unusually high temperatures. Hopefully by the end of next week the temperatures should drop to about 25C which is more the seasonal norm.
21 people like this
24 responses
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
4 Aug 18
It will be back to cold and rainy UK before you know it.
4 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
4 Aug 18
I know and then we will be complaining about that! LOL
2 people like this
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
4 Aug 18
It's been so hot here too. Nice to have a cooler weekend. Can actually breath for a couple of days.
3 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
5 Aug 18
Good and make sure you are drinking plenty!
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (98827)
• India
5 Aug 18
@garymarsh6 Come on...you are joking, right? January ..you will be experiencing around 10 C or so. Even if you give coastal consideration, in say Chennai, it would be around 25 to 30 C. Not more than that for certain. I have been there so I do know a little bit of climate at that end also. :)
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
5 Aug 18
Oh Vanny 45C I would die for sure. I told my wife that this is the temperature we will encounter in India in January. She said can we find the coolest time. I laughed at her and said that is the coolest time but we will be on holiday so not having to dash about too much and can slow right down! Flights hotels driver all booked now!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
5 Aug 18
@vandana7 Yes we are going to Tamil Nadu Starting in Chennai then ending in Madurai over two weeks and from what I have read it is likely to be around 30C while we are there! I think you already know what I am fearing. The trip said that they would take us to the Theosophical Society which is a nature park where there are many birds and snakes in their natural habitat. Hmm News for them I wont be going anywhere near it thank you very much!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
5 Aug 18
Yes that kind of heat is unbearable. Just best to stay in shut out the sun and heat and drink plenty!
@JudyEv (325793)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Aug 18
I can feel for you with those sorts of temperatures. Here, we are more 'fitted out' for high temps. Most buildings are air-conditioned and schools close once the temperature reaches a certain point although I'm not sure what it is. And that is a good point about staying hydrated.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
5 Aug 18
We do not have maximum work temperatures but we do have minimum. Most places do not have aircon
1 person likes this
@cottonsun (23)
•
4 Aug 18
That's horrible!!! Some greek friends told me the same... I hope it could pass faster and all of you could be safe and healthy!
3 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
4 Aug 18
Thank you. I think once it gets down to 25 it will be more manageable!
@cottonsun (23)
•
4 Aug 18
@garymarsh6 there's not that kind of temperatures in my country, so I just can't imagine how hard could it be to all of you!
1 person likes this
@popciclecold (35103)
• United States
4 Aug 18
Something is happening all over the world. It's been extremely hot here in the US.
2 people like this
@rebelann (111180)
• El Paso, Texas
5 Aug 18
bbbbuuuurrrrr, it's usually only down to about 5(c) in winter here @garymarsh6 but we have had really cold winters and even gotten snow in a few of them.
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
5 Aug 18
Haha you would hate our winter then -3 -0
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
5 Aug 18
I gag on water I have to have something in it. Lemon is refreshing!
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
5 Aug 18
@garymarsh6 I know, I am like my mother, we do not drink a lot. Well, for her it does not seem it has ever been a problem, but I try to drink more.
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
5 Aug 18
@LadyDuck Keep your kidneys well flushed Anna!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
5 Aug 18
When you are old Anna you must remember this
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
4 Aug 18
Yes it has been very bizarre all over the place. I feel very sorry for those in Japan it has been terrible there!
@just4him (306239)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
5 Aug 18
I hope it cools down for you soon. That is way too hot. It can get warm here, over 100 F, but not often, and I'm thankful it hasn't been that bad often this summer, though we started out that way at that beginning of summer, and now this week we're in the high 80's again, which I know you would appreciate. Very humid and muggy here. I'm looking forward to fall and winter.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
5 Aug 18
My favourite time of the year is spring when it is nice and fresh and everything is coming back to life!
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26202)
• Singapore
5 Aug 18
Many deaths happen in India during the days of scorching heat.
Here we are attuned to the hot weather and there is air conditioning everywhere including public transport.
Climate has indeed changed for the worse recently; our planet seems to repay us in kind for our follies - siva
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
5 Aug 18
I found Singapore quite uncomfortable for me. Too humid.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26202)
• Singapore
5 Aug 18
@garymarsh6 Yes, the humidity is quite high except during the months of Oct to Feb when the nights are cooler with the cold wind blowing from the North - China - siva
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
5 Aug 18
I found the climate in the Caribbean just right for me!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
5 Aug 18
That does sound very extreme. Your warnings are quite solid.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (12597)
• Ireland
5 Aug 18
@garymarsh6 Now this is one of the many reasons I love living in Ireland. High teens and low 20s is what we’ve got. And better still, no native snakes.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
5 Aug 18
Yes thank the lord for the absence of snakes!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
5 Aug 18
Thank you and I hope it is comfortable where you live Ohio is quite north I think and hopefully not humid!
1 person likes this
@KristenH (33351)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
5 Aug 18
@garymarsh6 Welcome. Right now it's going to be in the high 80s and feels like the 90s. I'll be cranking my AC real soon.
@YrNemo (20261)
•
1 Sep 18
Europe seemed to have a similar situation about ten years ago, am I right? I remember reading the news, about some deaths, mainly seniors who couldn't bear with the extreme heat. (46C is a bit too horrible to even think about, especially without air conditioner.)
@Nevena83 (65282)
• Serbia
25 Nov 18
In my country are not such high temperatures, but every year it is increasing for what degree.
