Edinburgh Marathon runners in hospital for heat stroke after bank holiday temperatures soar
More than a dozen runners were treated for heat exhaustion during the Edinburgh Marathon yesterday as temperatures topped 23°C.
Thousands braved the sweltering sun, but dozens ended up in the hospital because of the exertion.
The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) said that 16 people in total were transported to hospital on Sunday, with dozens more – including members of the public – receiving medical assistance.
Temperatures were so extreme that members of the public in Portobello decided to spray water on runners braving the heat using garden hoses.
A spokesperson for SAS said that people were treated for ‘a range of conditions’, including heat exhaustion, along the route, which ran from Potterrow, through Aberlady, and concluded in Musselburgh.
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The ambulance service was identifying people suffering and offering assistance as they completed the lengthy run.
‘Due to the higher temperatures experienced over the weekend, we responded to and treated an increased number of runners presenting with a range of conditions, including heat exhaustion throughout the route,’ they said.
‘We attended to 59 patients, with 14 patients transported to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and 2 patients transported to Western General Hospital.’
One marathon finisher said, ‘There were hundreds of people KO’d along the route. The paramedics were run ragged, but they were excellent.
‘All along the route, they were already at the people who needed them. 10/10, God bless our first responders.’
How to stay cool in this heatwave
If you can enjoy the weekend by a shaded lake, congratulations.
However, this might not be possible if you’re stuck in a major city or have to hit the road or travel by train.
Reaching for a sip of water in any weather is not a bad idea, but doctors have recommended enjoying one surprising everyday drink in a heatwave.
On the Tube, your best hope is an Underground line with air conditioning, but bringing water along is a top tip for hot-weather travel in London.
Metro has this handy guide for heatwave survival 101 shopping essentials, from best handheld fans to cooling pillows.
Tens of thousands of people turned out to line the streets next to key parts of the marathon route to cheer people on and hand out goodies like oranges, sweets, water, and energy drinks.
Temperatures of 33.5°C have been recorded in other parts of the UK – the highest May temperature on record.
The UK saw the hottest day of the year so far on Saturday, when the village of Frittenden, in Kent, hit 30.5°C amid a days-long heatwave.
While it makes sense that any stretch of heat is a heatwave, the actual definition of one varies from place to place.
A heatwave is when it’s hotter than normal, relative to the conditions of a region, for more than three days straight, the Met Office says.
Conditions for a heatwave have been met in eight parts of England so far today:
- Heathrow in Greater London
- Benson in Oxfordshire
- Brooms Barn in Suffolk
- High Beech in Essex
- Kew Gardens in London
- Northolt in London
- Santon Downham in Suffolk
- Writtle in Essex
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المصدر: Metro UK
