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Feeling hot hot hot?
As we swelter the hot weather is not good news for everyone, as
pollution soars and transport grinds to a halt. Doctors also warned
people not to go jogging in the fierce sun. 'If you lose only 5
per cent of your total body water, it can lead to nausea and terrible
headaches,' said Professor Jim Ryan, an A & E consultant. 'Much
more and you run the risk heat stroke, where the body's temperature
begins to rise uncontrollably.'
Some people are benefiting from the heatwave however. Alcohol sales
are soaring with sales of white whine, cider and lager doubling,
while supermarkets are selling out of suncream, bug spray, unbrellas
and disposable bbqs. Ice-cream is selling as fast as it can be distributed.
The only clothing sales currently on the up are shorts, bikinis
and slinky tops, while more and more people are getting tattoos
and piercings as they flash the flesh. Ski shops and other winter
clothing industries are not faring so well, and spare a thought
for anyone who has to wear protective clothing for work such as
firefighters - putting on heavy suits in 35C must be unbearable.
Chill out, there's plenty of
beer
German brewers are reassuring thirsty consumers there is no imminent
danger of beer running out despite rumours that surging demand in
the summer heat has exceeded the supply. "Brewers are working around
the clock. Overtime is common, people are working weekends, and
breweries are on triple shifts," said Erich Deterichs, MD of the
German Beer Brewers Association.
d Becks announced delivery delays earlier this week prompting concerns
of a drought of the nation's favourite drink. However, Deterichs
said Germans should not worry. "Perhaps a person's preferred brand
will be sold out, but no one has to fear that beer as a whole will
run out in Germany," Deterichs said.
The hot weather has caused demand to
skyrocket. Germany is the world's third largest beer producer, the
average German consuming over 100 litres annually.
A warm future
The weather has brought mayhem to the nation, with air-conditioning
failures closing factories and offices, and transport breaking down
under the strain - a prospect likely to worsen as global warming
increasingly takes effect. Construction materials will have to be
reconsidered to cope with greater environmental extremes throughout
the year. Experts consider it likely that temperatures are likely
to rise as much as 2 degrees by 2030, causing rising sea levels
- we must do all we can to help the environment and not exacerbate
the situation, for everyone.
[Sources: Reuters & The Observer]
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