WITH temperatures climbing, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is urging the public to take heat and water safety seriously both at home and abroad.

NHS figures reveal that 30 people in the UK died from excessive natural heat between 2013 and 2022, with 2022 marking a record year for heat-related deaths.

Between 2013/14 and 2022/23, there were around 2,100 hospital admissions in the UK due to exposure to excessive natural heat.

During 2022’s heatwave, where temperatures rose past 40 degrees there were 320 hospitalisations which is the highest number in that decade 2013/4 to 2022/23.

Looking at similar data, RoSPA’s safer lives, stronger nation report also highlights a growing risk from extreme heat. Hospital admissions due to over-exposure to natural heat have more than tripled in the past two decades, rising from an average of 72 per year in the early 2000s to 232 annually in recent years.

Steve Cole, Policy Director at RoSPA, said: “Heat is no longer just a holiday park, it’s a growing public health risk. We’re seeing more frequent and intense heatwaves, both in the UK and globally, and the data shows a clear rise in heat-related illness and fatalities.”

“Warm weather can also be deceptive when it comes to going for a dip. While the air may feel hot, water temperatures often remain dangerously cold, which can lead to cold water shock, even in summer.”