NHS warns England fans to drink water through heatwave ahead of Panama World Cup clash

London Ambulance Service (LAS) chiefs have issued a public health warning to England fans ahead of Saturday’s World Cup group-stage match against Panama, urging them to drink water continuously through a record-breaking heatwave that has pushed emergency services to their limits.

Craig Harman, LAS chief operating officer, said 999 services are already under severe strain and called on supporters to hydrate even before they feel thirsty. “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,” Harman said.

The warning follows a dramatic spike in emergency demand. The LAS recorded its highest-ever number of life-threatening callouts on Wednesday, with a 50% increase in emergency calls compared to a typical Wednesday in June and a 30% rise in cardiac arrests. At least three hospitals have declared critical incidents in recent days.

The Met Office confirmed that Friday provisionally broke the record for the hottest June day in the UK for the third consecutive day, with a temperature of 36.9C recorded in Wattisham, Suffolk — surpassing the 36.7C high set in Merryfield, Somerset, on Thursday. A rare red weather warning remained in place across much of England, with temperatures expected to stay above 30C through Saturday.

Darren Farmer, LAS director of ambulance operations, pointed to the Ghana match as a cautionary example, noting that England’s draw produced a larger surge in demand than the earlier win over Croatia. “We know from experience that a combination of excitement, tension, alcohol and warm weather can lead to avoidable ambulance callouts,” Farmer said. “You want to end your night winning and not in the back of an ambulance.”

Fans were advised to pace alcohol consumption, alternate with water, and avoid direct sun during the hottest parts of the day. Figures from the Ghana fixture also showed a rise in alcohol-related assaults, adding to concerns about the cumulative pressure on emergency services heading into the weekend.