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UK NEWSFREEZE MAY KILL 2,000 A WEEKWednesday February 1 2012 by Nathan Rao
BRITAINS big freeze could kill up to 2,000 people a week, as temperatures plunge lower than at the South Pole, health chiefs warned last night. The Department of Health warned the elderly and vulnerable to take extra care as temperatures fall to -11C (12F) in parts of the country and icy winds make it feel closer to -12C. In comparison, yesterday the McMurdo research centre in Antarctica was a relatively mild -3C. Chief Medical Officer Sally Davies said the number of cold-related deaths could rise substantially. In one week in last years big freeze the number in England and Wales rose from 9,220 to 11,193. Forecasters, who have warned that the cold snap could last all month, said today would be one of the winters chilliest days. And by Friday, temperatures will fall as low as -11C at night in the North and -8C in the South. In some places they are not expected to rise above freezing during the day.
Met Office spokesman Dan Williams said: This is going to probably be the coldest prolonged spell we have had so far this winter. Snow flurries were reported yesterday as far south as London, Kent and Sussex. And everywhere is at risk by the weekend as the Siberian front meets an Atlantic system. Mr Williams said: On Friday night we think the milder Atlantic front is going to try to push the system from the east it is going to be showtime. The AA last night sent out extra patrols. By lunchtime yesterday it had attended more than 5,000 call-outs, a third more than normal. Local authorities urged people to look out for their elderly neighbours. Peter Box, of the Local Government Association, said: Council staff will be delivering hot meals, collecting prescriptions, delivering portable heaters, defrosting pipes, and arranging basic checks on residents they know are vulnerable to make sure theyre okay.
Mr Box insisted there was enough grit to cope with roads freezing over. He said: Councils have got more salt this year along with better plans to use it and new technology to make it go further. Theyre receiving up-to-the minute reports from weather experts and our gritting teams are on standby around-the-clock. Sales of electric blankets have almost trebled since the cold snap started, according to Debenhams. SICK02.02.12, 3:58am There are some people on here who don't really make sense and sound very sick in th head. Is this really what people in Britain are like? If so no wonder it's woes are so great. • Posted by: ProudlyBritish • Report Comment UP YOURS01.02.12, 10:15pm and before you beckham fans wish me ill'''''i dont give a shit • Posted by: truckt • Report Comment BE GONE01.02.12, 10:12pm oh Edward...what a thing to say....no kill the lot of them...pains in the ****. • Posted by: truckt • Report Comment FUN01.02.12, 10:09pm the rich have always got richer..part of life.....the only consolation..is they get buried or burnt....what fun...if you can only see them gone...good riddance...i was hoping to see off horrid david Beckham...but im too old...maybe a plane crash could get the lot of them......yes the whole horrid lot.....what fun • Posted by: truckt • Report Comment ALL OVER BY NEXT WEEK ?01.02.12, 9:37pm "big freeze to last a month " ... "2000 to die" .... strange coz the latest forcast for early next week show the temperature around 8 or 9. That PLUS 8 or 9, NOT MINUS 11 !!!!. So much for lasting a month, it could be over with in one week • Posted by: pb82 • Report Comment A DANGER01.02.12, 7:19pm if you didnt have problems there is a predatory firm called EQUITA from Northampton...who will attack you old people using strong arm tactics...there is no defense they will hit you....do what they can to get youre goods....the Police wont help...they are on the pay-roll...beware old ones these people are very dangerous • Posted by: truckt • Report Comment
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