‘Don’t let the celebration become a medical emergency’: England fans warned ahead of World Cup game in heatwave

Health chiefs have issued stark warnings to England fans as the country is set to swelter through extreme heat ahead of the World Cup game on Saturday.

>Thomas Tuchel’s men will take on Panama in New Jersey as they hope to secure their place in the round of 36 in style.

>But with the fixture not kicking-off until 10pm, doctors have warned fans could risk dehydration, fainting, and even heatstroke after drinking all day in the scorching sunshine.

England fans have been warned of the dangers of drinking in the heat (PA)Private GP and medical director for Prestige Private Health Dr Wesley Tensel said the combination of the hot weather with alcohol can “catch people out”.

>He explained that as well as losing fluid from our bodies during the heatwave through sweating, alcohol is a diuretic, which causes us to urinate more and therefore lose further fluids.

>“That combination together can be a double whammy,” he said, warning that it then increases the risk of symptoms including dizziness, dehydration, and heat exhaustion.

>He added the late kick-off will give fans more time to drink ahead of the game, and that even once temperatures fall, it can be hard to recover if your body is already dehydrated.

>Dr Tensel warned fans to look out for dark urine, nausea, feeling unusually weak as “warning signs” of dehydration - but said prevention is the easiest way to stay well.

>“The simplest advice is to pace yourself,” he said. “Alternate your alcoholic drinks with water or soft drinks, eat properly before drinking, and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to hydrate.

>“The aim is to remember the match and not end up with a trip to A&E.”

>It comes after a week of record-breaking heat in England. The Met Office said temperatures had reached 36.7C in Merryfield, Somerset, on Thursday afternoon, provisionally making it the UK’s hottest June day on record.

>On Friday, a chief at the country’s largest ambulance service also warned people to drink responsibly and avoid exercising outside amid the punishing heatwave.

>The London Ambulance Service (LAS) responded to its highest number of life-threatening emergencies ever on Wednesday, and its chief operating officer Craig Harman said they expect “demand to grow day on day over the next couple of days”.

>He advised people to drink “plenty of water” in between alcoholic beverages.

>The chief told the Press Association that it is not just the elderly and people with underlying health conditions affected by the heat, adding: “I’m saying to people I need you to drink water even when you’re not thirsty, staying out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day, and particularly not exercising outside and putting your body under additional heat and strain.”

London Ambulance Service (LAS) said it experienced its busiest day of category one calls on Wednesday (PA)LAS saw a 50 per cent increase in life-threatening emergency calls compared with a typical Wednesday in June, with the number of cardiac arrests up 30 per cent.

>Police forces across England have also warned motorists not to drink or drug drive after the game, with officers reminding drivers the effects can linger into the following morning.

>Some have been carrying out random patrols the morning after England fixtures in a bid to catch those getting behind the wheel while still over the limit.

>Inspector Matt Boiles, of Avon and Somerset Police’s Roads Policing Unit, said one of the “biggest misconceptions” the force encounters is people believing they are fit to drive because because they have had a few hours’ sleep.

>“Going to bed doesn’t wipe the slate clean,” he said. “Sleep, coffee and a shower do not remove alcohol from your system – only time does.

>“If you’ve spent the evening drinking while watching the football, there is a very real possibility you could still be over the legal limit the following morning. Someone who drinks six pints during and after a match may still be over the limit when they wake up the next day.”

>He added: “Our advice is simple – if you’re drinking, don’t drive. Plan your journey home in advance and think about how you’ll get where you need to be the following morning.”