Work not taking red alert seriously

[Founderflower]

Why are some people not taking the red weather warning seriously? Where I am it’s 39 degrees on Wed/ Thur but ‘feels like’ 42 according to BBC.

At work they’re expecting everyone in - the office is air conditioned, so fine, but we’re central London so everyone needs to schlep in on public transport.

Red means a danger to life and not just for vulnerable people. Some people who are healthy will die because of the weather. There’s warnings of power outages and transport failures. So what happens if we get stuck on a broken down underground train?

I KNOW other countries see these temps regularly. But they are prepared for dealing with it. England is not and it fucks up. I don’t want a heart attack from sitting in 48 degree heat on a train. I’m really stressed out!

If it were a red warning around severe wind or rain or flooding they wouldn’t be telling everyone to come in! So why is heat seen differently?

I am very worried as I requested to work from home (0 reasons at all to be in the office, all meetings on teams and no visitors planned), it was denied. No air conditioning, office is sweltering i also walk 2.5 miles there as I need to take my child to school and there's no bus route. 1.5 mile walk home in the peak 5pm weather. I'm frustrated and upset. If my daughters school closes I will need to walk 2.5 miles back to collect her.
I looked at a taxi as a one off but it is £10 as an estimate one way which is insane.

Completely understand not pausing life for heatwave but it seems sensible if you can do 100% of job from home to use that benefit.

Everybody knows being in a confined space with lots of other people cools you down. I mean it works with hot tea, in fact if the tube breaks down, even better! Longer you stay in a metal box with a load of sweaty people, the cooler everyone will feel.

That's your logic right there.

Workshy Brits.

The average Brit can’t wait to book their next trip to Benidorm to sunbathe in 35 degree heat, red as lobsters, up at the crack of dawn stealing sun loungers.

Ask them to go to work for a few days in similar temperature and they’re going to die of hyperthermia. Pathetic.

but not everyone will be “fine” just by staying hydrated

Its really not the same sitting by a pool in warm weather, than travelling in public tramnsport in London carrying a bloody laptop

5/10, you forgot to mention 1976 and blame cushy office jobs

Damn. Now you've responded to her. Just want she wanted, best just to ignore.

Try working in a classroom with NO air conditioning.

The people who can afford to holiday in Dubai are probably not the same people currently holed up in an 8th floor flat with no through ventilation or air con.

Many people, especially those on very low incomes, and in badly conceived housing, are really going to suffer horrifically over the next few days.

THIS! the new fire safety rules have helped to turn them into even more of a sweat box

Op I wouldn't go anywhere near the underground in this heat.

If your office has air conditioning, I would be tempted to sleep there !

If it makes you feel better no nhs buildings that I have been in have air-con. We also have to wear the most unbreathable uniform on the planet and the fans are mainly circulating warm air. Most nurses and doctors will be making the same journey as you except they will not get to go home until the shift is over. Enjoy the air con some of us are not so lucky!

Agree, this article int he BMJ states : Health officials have issued a “red” heat health alert for six regions of England amid forecasts of record breaking temperatures this week.
Red alerts, reserved for the most severe events, will apply in the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, South West, London, and East of England from 1 am on Wednesday 24 June until 11 pm on Thursday 25 June.
Temperatures are forecast to reach 38°C this week, surpassing the previous record set 50 years ago in summer 1976.
This is only the second time that the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued the highest level of alert since the system was established in 2004, the first being in July 2022.
A red alert indicates a risk to life for even the healthy population, the agency warned.
https://www.bmj.com/content/393/bmj-2026-100057.full

Met Offce

Overnight temperatures will also be very high, with widespread Tropical Nights, where the temperature does not drop below 20°C, across parts of England and Wales, especially in urban areas. Humidity is also a factor, making this heatwave even more impactful with heat stress a danger to all.

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news-and-media/media-centre/weather-and-climate-news/2026/red-extreme-heat-warning-issued-with-june-temperature-records-forecast-to-break

finally, the Govt :

This is the second time a red HHA has been issued, the first having been issued in July 2022.
A red heat-health alert indicates that a severe heatwave could have impacts beyond health and social care with potential effects on transport systems, food, water, energy supplies and businesses, and indicates a risk to life for even the healthy population.

www.gov.uk/government/news/ukhsa-issues-red-heat-health-alerts-across-england

@Founderflower thank goodness they have been sensible .

I'm in NZ and our roads melt every single summer. Get a grip!

If I worked in an air-conditioned office, I'd travel in early and leave late.

If you're worried about the underground, use a bus.

I think sitting by a pool and beach is different and I wouod never go away in that heat most likely like the people who will struggle this week with the temp

I'm a gardener. My job is very physical, mostly in the full sun. I worked in it 8-5.30 today, had planned to work 8-4.30 wed & Thurs, but unfortunately nursery are closing at 2, so I'll have to finish early. If I can cope doing my physical job in direct sunlight, other healthy people can cope catching a train...

The bus is as bad. No air con and the windows only open a little with no breeze. When stuck in traffic, which happens a lot, it’s sweltering.

@SillyNavySnail you might want to read these links.

Have you never been on holiday to a hot country? Get a grip

Terrible isn't it, all those people wanting to not travel in the intense heat. Far better to go to an office instead of wfh because presenteeism is far more important than your health.

I totally understand your logic too. Because someone, somewhere goes to Benidorm, they should just get on with it.

Not outside on their walk to work they don’t. Stop being stupid

Clearly you have never been on a tube train in central London!