United Kingdom Meteorological Institute already sounded the alarm at the end of last week by sending a red hazard alert, meaning that the heat is so extreme that there may be a hazard to life and health.

Janna Helene Austegard Brekke is one of the few Norwegians currently in England. The Grimstad woman studied at the London School of Economics, and gave a firsthand account of what it was like to be under such extreme temperatures during the day.

Also read: Climate Experts Warn Heat Wave in Europe: – Might Also Impact Norway

– This is most noticeable in the apartment, because we don’t have a fan or air conditioner. The last few days have been very hot at home, especially in the kitchen and when going to bed. That’s why I haven’t been home lately. “Staying at home is one of the worst things I can do,” Brekke told Nettavisen from London.

The “home” of the two in recent days has become a university courtyard for an important reason.

– Although there are no classes right now, the school is open all summer. “On campus it’s always beautiful and cool, so here we don’t feel the heat at all,” adds the 23-year-old who has been studying in London for almost a year.

– Everything the British talk about

Brekke has very few British people in his social circle, as he is pursuing a master’s degree in international politics with study colleagues from all corners of the world, but he is very clear about one thing.

– Heatwaves are the only thing the UK is talking about right now. It’s everywhere. In my study environment we also talk a lot about this, but with international students we talk about climate change and heat waves like that might become a new reality. The situation is extreme and extraordinary, the Grimstad woman said.

– What precautions are you taking in this heat?

– Visiting campus or other air-conditioned places is one of them. I also try to stay away from “tube”, i.e. public transport. It’s bad in there, the site is even hotter than outside. Then I’d rather go to school, which takes less than an hour. It’s clear that you should drink plenty of water, Brekke replied.

– Is this your first time experiencing such extreme temperatures?

– I’ve lived in Arizona in the United States and in Ghana, so I’ve had similar experiences in the past. However, it didn’t feel so bad at the time, because we had good access to opportunities to live in the water, the student said.

– Have you considered escaping from England to return to cooler Norway?

– I want to go back to Norway, but the tickets are very expensive now considering the air raid. “I considered going south to Brighton for a dip in the ocean, but now it’s really crowded there,” the 23-year-old said.

– Tuesday will be the hottest day. How will you face the day?

– I sit at school or in a cafe. “I’ll probably go out a bit too, but stay away from areas with lots of people,” Brekke said.

Action list

In recent days, the British authorities have issued several steps which they are asking citizens to follow.

– Take care of vulnerable friends, family and neighbors. There may be people who have a challenge to stay calm and hydrated. This is especially true for the elderly, people with underlying diseases and people living alone, write health authorities on government websitesafter issuing a Level 4 warning which means “national emergency”.

And added:

– Stay cool indoors by closing the curtains in rooms facing the sun, and avoiding physical activity. Also stay away from the sun between 10:00 and 15:00, is some of what it says.

The government also said it would continue to monitor the situation closely.

– The UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) will monitor any illness that may occur in the heat, and we will continue to maintain close dialogue with the Met Office, NHS and other departments to assess the effects of heat ripple.

Equip emergency services

It was reported some schools would only train for half a day or close completely. British Rail asks people not to take trains unless “absolutely necessary”. The trains will run at a limited speed, as the extreme heat can affect the rail tracks, and put the rail infrastructure under “tremendous stress”, the rail authority wrote in a statement, according to BBC.

After a crisis meeting in the government last Saturday, it was decided that emergency services would equip themselves in the next few days to deal with the extreme heat that can take lives and health. The BBC states that the ambulance service in London expect up to 8,000 calls on Monday and Tuesday, which is much more than a busy day of around 5,500 calls. Therefore, the public is asked to follow the steps of the authorities, and not to become “overconfident” in the next few days.

– In this country, we are used to using warm days as an opportunity to go out and play in the sun. It’s not that kind of weather, said Penny Endersby, head of the UK Meteorological Institute.

Has caused a reaction

However, in the government crisis meeting, a number of statements were made that left many people confused. Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raad urged the use of sunscreen, and people stay hydrated and away from the sun during the hottest period.

– We should enjoy the sunshine. And we have to be tough enough to deal with some of the pressures that will come up,” Raad told Sky News.

Also read: Warns Norwegians on Vacation: Here’s a Heat Wave

He believes there is no reason to close schools on Monday and Tuesday, when the heatwave is expected to reach its peak.

The union head for paramedics in the UK, Tracy Nicholls, was quick to react to the Deputy Prime Minister’s comments.

– It’s not normal heat which you can protect with sunscreen. It’s the severe heat that can actually cause death, says Nicholls.