27/05/2026
Be aware of the main risks posed by a heatwave 🔥 are:
1.Not drinking enough water 💧 (dehydration)
2. Overheating, 🥵 which can make symptoms worse for people who already have problems with their heart or breathing 😮💨
3. Heat exhaustion 🥵and heatstroke
Who's most at risk?
A heatwave can affect anyone, but the most vulnerable people are:
‼️older people – especially those over 75 and female
‼️those who live on their own or in a care home
‼️people who have a serious or long-term illness including heart or lung 🫁 conditions, diabetes, kidney disease, Parkinson's disease or some mental health conditions
‼️people who are on multiple medicines that may make them more likely to be badly affected by hot ☀️ weather
‼️those who may find it hard to keep cool 🥶 – babies and the very young, the bed bound, those with drug or alcohol addictions or with Alzheimer's disease
‼️people who spend a lot of time outside or in hot ♨️places – those who live in a top-floor flat, the homeless or those whose jobs are outside
Tips for coping in hot 🔥 weather
Keep out of the heat if you can.
If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm,
Wear sunscreen 🧴 , a hat 👒 and light clothes 👕 , and avoid exercise 🏃♀️ or activity that makes you hotter 🥵
Cool yourself down 🥶
Have cold food and drinks 💧, avoid alcohol 🍺 , caffeine ☕️ and hot drinks, and have a cool shower 🚿 or put cool water 💦 on your skin or clothes.
Keep your living space cool 🥶 Close windows 🪟 during the day and open them at night 🌚when the temperature outside has gone down.
Electric fans can help if the temperature 🌡️ is below 35 degrees.
Check the temperature 🌡️ of rooms, especially where people at higher risk live and sleep 🛌 .
For more information visit GOV.UK: Beat the heat: staying safe in hot weather.
You can also get help from the environmental health office at your local council, if you think a hot house is affecting your health or someone else's.
They can inspect a rented home 🏠 for hazards to health, including excess heat.
Find your local council (GOV.UK)
Hydration & Nutrition
· Drink before you're thirsty: Sip water 🚰 constantly throughout the day rather than chugging large amounts infrequently.
· Avoid certain drinks: Steer clear of excessive caffeine, energy drinks, or alcohol 🍺 , as they contribute to dehydration.
· Electrolytes:
If you are sweating 🥵 heavily, consider electrolyte-replacement sports drinks 🥤
Watch out for signs of heat-related illness 🥴
If you or someone else feels unwell with a high temperature 🌡️during hot weather 🔥, it may be heat exhaustion or heatstroke.
Find out about the signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, and when to get help !!!
