Heatwaves this summer have brought travel disruption, overheating homes and school closures for millions - and there is a fifth heatwave expected to hit this week. It is well-documented that those with existing health conditions and disabilities are most at risk during extreme heat episodes. But these additional and specific challenges faced - from struggling service dogs to overheating wheelchairs - are often overlooked, even in public advice and emergency planning, say campaigners and researchers.
"For somebody who is able-bodied, it's uncomfortable but if you identify as disabled, we're starting to talk about survival," says campaigner Doug Paulley. 'There's nowhere we can stay': The holiday struggle facing disabled people NHS must plan for heatwaves like it does for winter, health secretary says Emily Davison says soaring temperatures force her to put the welfare of her guide dog, Rosie, before her own independence. Davison is a London-based journalist and content creator, but heatwaves have forced her to cancel journeys to events because it is often too hot for Rosie to travel safely - missing out on potential earnings. Public transport like buses often overheat and she avoids Uber after "too many experiences where they've not let me in with a dog".
She says finding available taxis has become more difficult, even with London Taxicard scheme, a subsidised taxi service for people with mobility impairments or severe sight loss. Davison says every trip now requires careful planning, which can make her feel isolated and limits both her work and independence. "It does put the brakes on your life," she says.
"When you're in this situation and you've got a guide dog and you can't do anything, it does make certain things grind to a halt." She is now spending long periods working from home - but says she is lucky to be still able to do this but not all disabled people can. "I think the culture of being able to work from home and have that option is really important to keep ensuring that disabled people can still be in employment." Jimmy Macfarlane is a Cardiff-based actor who needs to travel for his job - so he uses a powered wheelchair. During this summer's heatwaves, people have taken to social media to report phone batteries draining faster because of the high temperatures, but forJimmy batteries are what enable him to get around.
"The heat definitely impacts the chair and it makes the battery go down a lot quicker. "I always have to think is there a way I can get to where I need to be without moving the chair?" Macfarlane says. Some days he has not even been able to leave his home - he previously lived in a sixth-floor flat and the heat caused the lift to break down.
Such problems have been reported in other high-rise buildings by BBC News, but unlike other residents Jimmy cannot just use the stairs to get round the problem. "There were times where I was stuck in the flat [for days] until it was fixed," he says. And the heat inside his flat became difficult to manage.
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