AIBU to be fed up with the heatwave panic?

[Iwanttobeafraser]

I'm fully aware that ots of people are goign to tell me I am BU but my god, I am so tired of the trauma over this heatwave.

The endless facebook posts (and MN) about if someone dares to take a dog out in the heat - my local page had pictures of three dogs, looking pretty relaxed, albeit with their tongues hanging out, and a story about how she cornered the woman who had gone into the shop (to buy fags! [gasp]. If that's even true.) and then the woman was rude to her and basically 500 posts agreeing how awful those poor dogs must be finding things.

The people who can't leave the house because it's too hot.

The trauma about whether the kids should be allowed out because it's too hot for them.

Blah blah blah.

It's hot. Yes, it means you have to adjust a few things. Yes, you might not lke it. But it's not the end of the bloody world. I don't like the cold. But it doesn't cause me to be completely unable to do anything, go anywhere, or let my children do anything.

I am sure that would be the case.

There is a local quarrey with a pool of water and despite it being fenced off and signs everywhere, there are always a few stupid teens who get into trouble (sometimes fatally)

Well my request is that please can people stop saying "it's only a couple of days" or "it's only a bit warm". That might be the case where you are or maybe you tolerate heat better, but you can't speak for everyone.

I'm in London and today is the "coolest" day since last Thursday, at 26 currently (which is still hot imo) and the heatwave isn't breaking until Sunday so over a week. Due to be 30 again tomorrow. Added to that, the heat in London is unbearable, the buildings and pavements absorb it all day long. I find 7pm the worst of the day because all the heat has built up with nowhere to escape. There's no "cool part of the day" here to cool the house down. It's hideous. And it's only May, if we don't have at least one or two more heatwaves (maybe more) this summer I'll be shocked.

I have air con and feel no shame about it! I have a couple of conditions which mean I struggle to regulate my temperature and I genuinely can't function in the heat, nor can I cool down easily.

You do aircon costs a bloody fortune to run. So even if people had it in houses as standard they may not be able to afford to run it. Or like me and find it dries my throat out and makes me cough

This thread has actually raised a number of interesting points and different views so sarcasm like this wasn't called for.

But, if we're going there, then actually, yes, I find it astonishing when grown, healthy, adults who are, apparently, competent, can't figure out how to manage basic things like coping in hot/cold weather. For the avoidance of doubt, I'm not talking about people who have specific challenges to overcome - elderly people being more vulnerable, people with health conditions etc - but just normal people.

You don't have to be hugely educated or clever to know that sitting outside in 30 degree heat is dangerous. And it's not genius level understanding to know that actually, it's okay to leave the house when it's hot. Especially becuase these sorts of heatwvaes are not entirely unusual any more.

Hate it? Fair enough, I get that and don't blame anyone who hates truly hot weather. If I could never see snow again for the rest of my life I'd be happy and if that makes me a scrooge (according to my children) so be it. But just because I don't like snow and ice, doesn't mean I'm not capable of living my life when it is snowing.

it isn't summer, it's spring

it was 10C last week, 12 on a warm day. That's a 25 degree leap in less than a week.

i defy anyone to be ok with that kind of sudden temp increase.

Midsummer day is four weeks away - how long is summer if this is spring?

astronomical summer runs June 21-September 22.
meterological summer is June 1st to Sept 1st, which is the dates the Met office use for figures & forecasts.

Take your pick
but neither include may.

Re is this or is this not summer - I actually think we need to accept that weather patterns are changing. I have family in Europe and their school holidays start earlier and finish earlier and they inevitably get better weather for it while my DC are sweltering in school in June, only to sit inside while it's raining in August whining that they can't go play basketball or whatever! I have definitely noticed that the heat starts earlier the last few years but doesn't always last through the actual "summer"

It would be less of an issue if there was better domestic and public infrastructure for the high heat and better worker protections. Spain has regulations about indoor working above 27 degrees and mild active working (or something like that) above 25 degrees.

The problem (and where the panic rightly comes from) is because it's not meant to be 35 degrees in the middle of Spring. We also get no chance to acclimatise to it, it goes from 11 to 35 in the space of three days. That isn't normal. If there was a bit more of a gradual increase people would probably cope a bit better with it.

But aside from that, weather like this just makes me irritable and grumpy, I haven't slept properly in three days (even with AC on), I've lost all motivation to do anything, i'm completely devoid of any energy, the days are endless. There isn't an upside to it.

It’s not the middle of spring, it’s right at the end of it by whichever metric you choose.

It’s not always as easy as make adjustments and dress for it as most people have to go to work, some are out in it all day and others are cooped up in stuffy environments or factories all day with only a couple of breaks where they can drink water while having to wear a uniform that doesn’t necessarily qualify as dressed for it, my son has to wear trousers and work boots all day which is extremely uncomfortable but isn’t the sort of place he can pop his shorts and flip flops on.

100% agree with this post.

That's great, if I go out in this heat I end up in hospital for several days, it's very limiting so I will moan as much as I damn well want thankyou very much

The climate is definitely changing. Whack ducted air in your house then you can constantly control the temp.

Ok? I wasn’t having a go at you or anyone - we’re all different. Moan as much as you like

I stay inside when it's too hot the heat triggers my epilepsy and I have seizures

There are some absolute turkeys about. Would I take photos of them and plaster FB and that dreadful Nextdoor with them, absolutely not. People can make themselves ill or seriously hurt themselves without commentary from us. There is enough information out there, sometimes there is a reason for the Darwin Awards.

When I was working in Australia, we weren't allowed to wear shorts or short sleeves because the sun exposure was an OH&S issue. It was literally collared blue drill shirt and long trousers working outside on 40 degree days for sun protection. Work was postponed when it got over 40 degrees and moved to early morning or evening.

I briefly lived in Sydney and coped by moving between air conditioned public transport and buildings. I’d go home from work and crank up the air con to feel properly cold. Hot has always made me feel ill. I only ever visit hot countries in winter.

We aren't all the same Seems there are far more heat whingers on here than heat lovers

This didn't age well

I'm tired of people whinging about "heatwave panic"

Large areas of the world dont have air con. Ive stayed in plenty of apartments in Spain, Italy and France where they didnt have air con, some had the outside shutters which are much more effective but not fit for UK houses because our windows open outwards.

There are lots of public service announcements in those countries in the summer telling people to turn off/reduce their use of air con for the planet.