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Beat the Heat: staying safe during the heat wave
The Met Office have issued a Level-4 Heat-Health Alert, which is an Emergency state, from this weekend into next week (from 16 to 19 July).
Although ordinarily most of us welcome the summer sun, high temperatures of this calibre can be harmful to your health. The heat can affect anyone, but some of us, who have underlying health problems, run a greater risk of serious harm.
The following guidance will tell you how to stay safe in hot weather. It tells you who is at greatest risk of ill health from the heat, how to recognise when you or someone’s health may be affected, and what to do if you or someone else becomes unwell as a result of the heat.
Over the next four days, be on the lookout for heat-related illness in yourself and others and remember that chronic illnesses can get worse in hot weather.
It is best to avoid getting overly hot in the first place. Avoid being out in the sun during the hottest part of the day (around midday) and plan your day to avoid heavy activity during extreme heat. If you have to go out in the heat, walk in the shade, apply sunscreen, and wear a hat and light clothing.
If your home is very hot, find some shaded green space or have a cool bath or shower. A wet flannel at the mape of the neck also cools down the body. Many public buildings, such as places of worship, local libraries or supermarkets, can be cool in summer; consider a visit as a way of cooling down.
The heat can affect anyone, but some people run a greater risk of serious harm. Remember to think of those who may be more at risk from the effects of heat – these include the following:
- older people, especially those over 75
- babies and young children
- people with a serious chronic condition, particularly dementia, heart, breathing or mobility problems
- people with serious mental health problems
- people on certain medications, including those that affect sweating and temperature control (for example, diuretics, antihistamines, beta-blockers and antipsychotics
- people who are already ill and dehydrated (for example, from gastroenteritis)
- people who misuse alcohol or drugs
- people who are physically active (for example, soldiers, athletes, hikers and manual workers)
- homeless people
It’s important to get medical advice if you are suffering from a chronic medical condition or taking multiple medications, and to make sure medicines are stored below 25°C or in the fridge.
Two potentially very serious conditions that can occur if you get too hot are heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Heat exhaustion is where you become very hot and start to lose water or salt from your body. Common symptoms include weakness, feeling faint, headache, muscle cramps, heavy sweating and intense thirst.
Heatstroke is where the body is no longer able to cool itself and a person’s body temperature becomes dangerously high. Heatstroke is less common, but more serious. Untreated symptoms include confusion, seizures and loss of consciousness.
If you start feeling any of these symptoms or witness someone else feeling faint, get help. Call NHS 111 or in an emergency 999.
For further information and health advice for the general population and those of us who may be particularly sensitive to extreme heat are available from:
- NHS – how to cope in hot weather
- NHS – heat exhaustion and heat stroke (how to avoid and be aware/treat)
- UK AIR by calling 0800 55 66 77 (recorded information)
- Defra
Stay safe everyone and take care!