The Household Cavalry and Queen’s Guard set an example by remaining composed and continuing operations as the rest of Britain melts down during the summer.
On the hottest day in the history of the UK, troopers at Horse Guards Parade in downtown London used electrical fans to lessen the heat while they stood in the shade.
The Queen’s Guard, who are positioned outside Buckingham Palace in the hot sun, perspire despite wearing a bulky military uniform and thick bearskin hats.
Under their tunics and helmets, the guards said they feel like a “pressure cooker,” and they are consuming lots of water and fruit to avoid heat exhaustion.
There are a couple things you can do [to stay calm], according to Trooper Brandon Richards, who spoke with Forces Network.
“When you arrive here, make sure you take off your gear and aren’t just lounging around in it, remain in the shade, drink as much water as you can, and, when you can, eat the fruit that’s given to us, eat the meal, and really just keep on top of yourself.”
It’s quite excessive, especially given the present temperature. Moreover, last year wasn’t as hot because of Covid, so we didn’t go outside as frequently. Everyone is experiencing it this year.
You sweat a lot, especially when wearing a helmet, and moisture naturally drips into your eyes, according to trooper Jamie Bartlett.
Because you must wear a tunic, it gets really warm. It reminds me of a pressure cooker.
The Met Office said that temperatures in the UK hit 40 degrees Celsius for the first time in recorded history, with 40.2 degrees being provisionally recorded at London Heathrow.
The threshold was reached at 12.50 p.m. as much of the UK sweltered in a heatwave, with portions of England and Wales being under a red warning for excessive heat, posing a threat to life, placing stress on the NHS, and causing disruptions to transportation networks.
Scientists warn that the climate change is causing every heatwave to become more powerful, common, and likely.
The UK had its warmest night ever on Monday, with temperatures staying in the mid-20s, before reaching a new record high for daytime temperatures.
The Met Office issued a warning that temperatures would continue to rise until Tuesday afternoon.
A “red” excessive heat warning is in effect for much of England and Wales until the end of Tuesday.
The heat is disrupting transportation systems and posing a serious health danger.
The intense heat on Monday caused temperatures to persist in the mid-20s in some regions, making it the warmest night on record in the UK.
Tuesday’s rail service disruptions included no trains into or out of London Kings Cross for the whole day, no Thameslink or Great Northern trains north of London, and only very restricted East Midlands Railway service.
Services into and out of London Euston, on Avanti West Coast and West Midlands Railway, and London Marylebone, on Chiltern Railways, are also very limited and disrupted.
Temporary speed restrictions are also in place due to the possibility of buckling rails.
Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, acknowledged that the UK’s transportation system cannot withstand the intense heat and predicted that problems on the roads and railroads will persist for decades during similar heatwaves.
Heatwaves are becoming more extreme, frequent, and likely due to climate change, and scientists warn that the UK needs to prepare its homes, hospitals, schools, and transportation systems for an increase in sweltering heat.
A large portion of Europe is also sweltering in temperatures that are surpassing records, which is fuelling wildfires in several nations.
Due to the heat and an air conditioning issue, the Supreme Court in the heart of London was closed to visitors on Tuesday, while other schools stayed closed for a second day.
The level of traffic on the roads at 9 a.m. on Tuesday was less congested in several cities than it was at the same time last week, according to statistics released by location technology company TomTom.
A spokeswoman for the East of England Ambulance Service claimed that the organisation had elaborate measures in place to handle the extremely hot weather.
He continued, “Since Monday afternoon, call volume has been above usual.
The demand for our services is very high, and even when the temperatures drop, we anticipate that heat-related illnesses will continue to have an impact into the weekend.
He pleaded with people to stick to the rules during this hot spell and to only dial 999 in truly life-threatening situations.
Temperatures in the 30s by morning rush hour in the UK are ‘extraordinarily unusual,’ according to Met Office meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth.
She added: “We’re looking at the maximum temperatures somewhere between 40C-41C, and that’s looking to be across the Lincolnshire and Yorkshire region.” She said the high overnight temperatures had resulted in a very warm start to the day.
Britons have been advised to stay indoors between the hours of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., wear sunscreen, hats, and protective clothing, and drink enough of water to stay hydrated.
There have also been warnings against swimming in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs.
In addition, the Met Office has issued a yellow weather alert for heavy rain and thunderstorms that might cause delays on Wednesday afternoon as temperatures drop from their sweltering highs over parts of the South East and eastern England.