As temperatures in Paris soared to 40 degrees Celsius, Parisians waded into the Canal de l’Ourcq to cool off, a stark image of the climate crisis unfolding across Europe. But in the United Kingdom, the National Health Service has issued urgent hydration guidance for those in the grip of a “red alert” heatwave, warning of the real cost of the mercury rising in a country not built for the heat.
The scenes from Paris, where the government placed the capital under a red alert warning for heat, mirrored those in London and Manchester as the UK baked in temperatures hitting 38 degrees. For millions of workers, this is not a holiday but a test of endurance. The construction labourer, the warehouse picker, the Amazon driver: they all have to keep working, because the bills still need paying.
“We’re not used to this,” said Dave, a 47-year-old electrician from Bolton, as he bought a bottle of water in a corner shop. “But I can’t take a day off. The boss says it’s ‘essential work’. So I’ll sweat through it.” His story is repeated across the country. While the government urges people to stay indoors and hydrate, for many, staying home means losing income.
The NHS guidance, published on its website, advises drinking plenty of fluids, avoiding alcohol, and checking on elderly neighbours. It also warns that heat exhaustion and heatstroke can be serious, especially for those with underlying health conditions. But for low-income households, the simple act of staying hydrated can be a financial burden. The price of bottled water in some supermarkets has risen by 15% over the past year. Some are filling bottles from the tap, but even tap water costs money on a water meter.
“This is a class issue,” said Dr. Jane Ashcroft, a public health expert at the University of Liverpool. “The middle class can retreat to their air-conditioned homes or offices, but many workers in factories, hospitality, and outdoor jobs have no such luxury. The heat is a pain that they cannot escape.”
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called for emergency legislation to protect workers in extreme heat. “No one should be forced to choose between their health and their job,” said TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady. “The government must step in to ensure employers provide adequate breaks, cool water, and shade.”
But the government has so far resisted mandatory rules, leaning on voluntary guidance. The Health and Safety Executive has said that employers have a duty to manage workplace temperatures but has not set a legal maximum. This gap in protection leaves workers vulnerable.
Meanwhile, in the canals of Paris, the human cost of a warming planet is on display. The UK can expect more of these summers. Without proper protections for workers, the heatwave will not just be a weather event. It will be a tax on the poor.
As the sun beats down, the NHS advice remains: stay safe, stay cool, and check on those who might be struggling. But for the millions who cannot afford to stay home, the guidance does not change the hardest truth of all: they cannot work in this heat and survive. And they cannot afford to stop.
