Older people, babies and children and people with health conditions can be at risk in a heatwave. Find out how to help them and yourself keep cool.
Older people, particularly if they live alone, babies and children, people with serious mental health, breathing, mobility, heart, drug or alcohol problems, existing high temperatures due to infection, manual workers and sportsmen and women can be more at risk of ill health through heat. Some prescription medications can also reduce your tolerance to heat. Don’t stop taking them, but take extra care to keep cool.
Heat exhaustion and heatstroke can also affect normally fit and healthy people if the heatwave is severe. The body pumps extra blood to try and keep cool and that can even trigger a heart attack in some people, while heatstroke can develop quickly and cause organ failure, brain damage and even death if untreated.
Plan your day to stay out of the heat, particularly the hottest part of the day from 11am to 3pm. If you have to go out, stay in the shade, wear a hat, sunscreen and light, loose fitting clothes, preferably cotton, and take water with you.
If you’re staying inside, keep windows closed while the room is cooler than outside and open them at night for ventilation. If you’re worried about security, only open windows on the first floor and above. Pale curtains and reflective blinds will help keep the room cool and cool showers or baths or splashing your face and neck with water or using a damp cloth or scarf will help cool you down.
Drink water or fruit juice regularly, even if you are not thirsty, avoid alcohol and too much caffeine and eat light, cold meals, particularly salads and fruit which contain a lot of water.
If you or someone else feels unwell or has any unusual symptoms, such as cramp in the arms, leg or stomach, or has problems sleeping, try resting for a few hours, keep cool and drink plenty of water or fruit juice. Don’t take aspirin or paracetamol as they could make matters worse. If the symptoms don’t go away or you’re concerned contact NHS Direct on 0845 46 47, a pharmacist or your doctor.
If you suspect someone has heatstroke (symptoms are confusion, disorientation, convulsions, unconsciousness, hot dry skin and their core body temperature exceeding 40ºC for between 45 minutes and eight hours) call an ambulance immediately and cool them down as quickly as possible with damp clothes, water, moving them somewhere cooler, opening windows or using a fan.
