Public Health Warning - RED heat health alert

Please be informed that the UK Health Security Agency has issued a RED heat-health alert for the South East, which covers Wokingham Borough. The alert is in effect from Wednesday, 24 June 2026 at 01:00am to Thursday, 25 June 2026 at 11:00pm.

This means that severe impacts are expected across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including:

• increased risk to life across the whole population, with significant impacts on older people

• significantly increased demand on all health and social care services

• the heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services

• hot indoor environments making provision of care challenging and national critical infrastructure failures, such as generators and power outages

• water‑related incidents may increase, including risks from cold‑water shock and drowning

All services should activate their business continuity plans, if they haven’t already. 

Please check on colleagues and people around you to ensure they are keeping well in the hot weather.

If you spot a colleague who is unwell or may be suffering from heat exhaustion or heatstroke, please help them seek medical attention as necessary, and raise the issue with your line managers.

See below for more detailed guidance:

1. How to Beat the Heat - guidance for everyone

1. Keeping well

2. Drink lots of water; reduce consumption of tea, coffee and especially alcohol

3. Wear light-coloured, lightweight, cotton, loose-fitting clothing

4. Remember to eat properly

5. Avoid extreme exercise

2. Indoor advice

3. Close curtains of rooms that face the sun

4. Dress appropriately and check the central heating is switched off

5. Take cool baths/showers to cool down

6. Open windows if it feels cooler outside, but consider the safety of young children

7. Check medicines are stored at the correct temperature

3. Outdoor advice 

4. Apply sunscreen and wear a hat, while trying to stay in the shade

5. Keep out of the midday sun (11am to 3pm), avoid exercising during the hottest time of the day

6. Keep safe if swimming in water, especially open water, rivers and ponds

7. Never leave anyone alone in a vehicle – especially children, the elderly or animals

8. Public buildings, such as libraries and places of worship, may be cooler

4. Where to get help

5. Wokingham Borough Council website and NHS website – for information on staying well in hot weather

6. To report issues or emergencies that require Council support:

   • 0118 974 6000 (customer services)

   • 0800 212 111 (emergency out of hours)

   • 01344 351 999 (emergency social care out of hours)

7. Pharmacists – for treatment advice and minor ailments

8. NHS 111 – for urgent medical problems or if you are not sure what to do

9. Your GP – book an appointment or use their online services

10. Minor Injury Units or Urgent Treatment Centres – for injuries or illnesses that are urgent but not life threatening

11. Call 999 or visit A&E – for serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies

2. Workplace health and safety

• Apply sunscreen regularly when working outdoors

• Stagger start and finish times to avoid travel during hotter times of the day

• Plan your work schedule to avoid the heat, and work during cooler times of day

• Alternate tasks to avoid prolonged periods of outdoor work

• Take regular breaks to access shade, water and reduce the possibility of heat stress

• Where working from home, work in a cooler room or in the shade where possible

• Consider window tints or covers for vehicles operating or parked in direct sunlight

• Relax dress codes in the heat – avoid tight fitting clothing or darker clothing

• Drink plenty of water throughout the day to prevent dehydration

• Where able, utilise fans to circulate air or air conditioning

• When bringing your own food to work, it needs to be kept cool during warm conditions to prevent the possibility of illness resulting from spoiled or contaminated food

• Be mindful of your laptop overheating – signs include: the machine becoming slow or shutting down unexpectedly, applications and programs freezing, unexpected error messages appearing. Take a break until it has completely cooled down

• Keep laptop vents clear – these are usually underneath or on the sides of the laptop. Remove objects that are too close to your laptop. Clean vents for dust, dirt or hair. If it makes noises or the fan inside runs at maximum speed, it will need to be checked

• For further Health and Safety advice, contact healthandsafety@wokingham.gov.uk

3. Working with partners and clients

• Commissioners, providers and the voluntary sector should review and implement actions suggested in action cards, and provide support to vulnerable people

• Actively support all clients, and keep spaces under your management as cool as possible; cool rooms or areas should be below 26°C

• Promote among your partners and clients awareness of how to beat the heat for themselves, their homes and settings, and those around them

• Cascade information on how to reduce risks through your networks

• Activate business continuity plans, and follow local emergency response plans

Further public health guidance and resources are available at the bottom of this email.

An all user email to WBC staff will follow, with more guidance and information on the Intranet. If you have any concerns about working in the hot weather, please contact your line manager.

WBC will continue to work with internal services and multi-agency partners to assess the risks and impacts to the public, community and infrastructure.

Thank you for your work supporting the community during hot weather. If you have any questions, please contact public.health@wokingham.gov.uk .

Regards,

Public Health Team, Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough - a great place to live, learn, work & grow and a great place to do business

Website: www.wokingham.gov.uk