People with long-term health conditions such as heart or lung disease, diabetes, kidney disease, Parkinson’s, and some mental health conditions are more at risk during hot weather. Young children, especially babies and under 5s, can also be more affected as they find it harder to stay cool.
What you can do to stay safe
Stay indoors during the hottest part of the day.
Try to remain inside, especially between 11am and 3pm when temperatures are highest.
Look out for people who may be more vulnerable
If you care for someone who is at higher risk, check on them regularly during hot weather. Keep them cool and encourage them to stay indoors during the day.
Keep your home cool
Close blinds or curtains during the day to block out the sun. If it’s safe to do so, open windows at night to let cooler air in. This can help your body rest and recover.
Keep yourself cool
Take cool showers or baths and drink plenty of fluids.
Stay safe when outdoors
If you need to go out, protect your skin with sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher). Wear a hat, sunglasses, and loose, light-coloured clothing.
Check the weather
Make sure that you
- Check your local weather forecast so that you know when hot weather is expected.
- Check air pollution forecasts – hot weather can make air pollution worse which can cause problems if you have asthma and/or breathing problems.
- Plan activities to avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day. (11am to 3pm)
Stay hydrated
To help stay hydrated, you should:
- Drink fluids throughout the day, especially if you’re active – water or diluted juice are good choices.
- Take a refillable water bottle if you’re going out.
- Use the urine colour chart to check for signs of dehydration – your pee should be a pale straw colour.
- Take extra water for journeys by car or public transport.
Check for signs of heatstroke and heat illness
Heat illness such as heatstroke happens in hot places, both indoors and outdoors. It can be caused by being active in a place that’s too hot.
Heat illness can range from mild to severe, and heat exhaustion and heatstroke are the most serious types.
Heat exhaustion can usually be managed with first aid. If you aren’t able to cool down, it can become heatstroke. This is a potentially life-threatening condition.
Symptoms of heat illness
The symptoms of heat exhaustion are usually the same in adults and children. These include
- feeling faint
- tiredness,
- heavy sweating
- feeling very thirsty
- heat rash
- Children might also behave strangely.
Symptoms of heatstroke
However, the symptoms or heatstroke are more severe with
- Temperatures reaching more than 40 degrees Celsius
- Fainting or losing consciousness
- A seizure or fit
See NHS Inform for more advice.
Heatstroke and heat illness | NHS inform
