The national heatwave plan has been drawn up by the government's Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson in response to sweltering temperatures across much of Europe last year which killed an estimated 15,000 people.

The bulk of those who died that summer, notably in France, where the death rates became something of a national scandal, were old or otherwise vulnerable.

It was these people at whom the plan was principally aimed, Donaldson said in a statement released by the Department of Health.

"Timely preventive measure can reduce excess deaths. In contrast to deaths associated with cold snaps in winter the risk in mortality follows very sharply, within one or two days of the temperature rising," he said.

"This means that by the time a heatwave starts the window of opportunity for effective action is very short indeed. It is therefore crucial that we are properly prepared for this situation."

The plan outlines how health groups and other public organisations should monitor heat-related illnesses, with a four-stage series of alerts. Level four would be "an emergency where the severity or duration of the heatwave poses serious dangers to health".

A leaflet called "Heatwave - a guide to looking after yourself" will also be sent to homes around the country, containing practical steps on avoiding heat-related risk.

Britain's summers have grown decidedly hotter in recent years, notably in the south of the country, which last summer saw temperatures climb above the 100-degree Fahrenheit mark (37.8 Celsius) for the first time in recorded history.

TERRA.WIRE