Heat can harm - Keeping cool in summer

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Illness related to heat

High temperatures of above 25 degrees centigrade can cause serious illness such as:

  • dehydration
  • heat cramps
  • heat rash
  • dizziness and fainting
  • heat exhaustion
  • heat stroke
  • heart attacks

Who should take extra care

Anyone can become unwell when the weather is hot. Some people are more at risk and should take extra care during the summer, this includes:

  • people over the age of 65
  • babes and young children under the age of 5
  • people with long term health conditions particularly:
    • heart or breathing problems
    • dementia
    • diabetes
    • kidney disease
    • parkinson’s disease
  • pregnant women
  • people with serious mental health problems
  • people on certain medications
  • people who are already ill and dehydrated (for example from diarrhoea and vomiting)
  • people who experience alcohol or drug dependence
  • people who are active and spend a lot of time outside such as runners, cyclists and walkers
  • people who work in manual jobs or have extensive time outside
  • homeless people including rough sleepers
  • those that cant change their accommodation such as sofa surfers or living in hostels
  • people who live alone and may be unable to care for themselves.

Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke

Heat related illness can progress from heat exhaustion to heat stroke.

You can find more information on the signs and symptoms of dehydration on NHS.UK.

First aid for heatwaves and extreme heat

Heat exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is when the body loses excess water, salt and sugar through sweating.

Common symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

  • tiredness
  • weakness
  • feeling faint
  • headache
  • muscle cramps
  • feeling or being sick
  • heavy sweating
  • intense thirst.

How to cool down if you or someone else has symptoms of heat exhaustion:

  • move to a cooler place such as a room with air conditioning or somewhere in the shade
  • remove all unnecessary clothing like jackets or socks
  • drink cool water, a sports or rehydration drink, or eat cold and water rich foods like ice-lollies
  • apply cool water by spray or sponge to exposed skin
  • use cold packs wrapped in a cloth and put under the armpits or on the neck.

Heat exhaustion usually gets better if you cool down within 30 minutes. But if you’re worried about your symptoms, or they’re getting worse, call NHS 111 for advice. If it’s an emergency, or you think someone has heatstroke, call 999 straight away.

Heat stroke

Heat stoke occurs when the body’s temperature becomes high and the body is no longer able to cool itself

Common symptoms of heat stroke:

  • confusion
  • lack of co-ordination
  • fast heartbeat
  • fast breathing or shortness of breath
  • hot skin that is not sweating
  • seizures.

Heatstroke is a medical emergency. If you think someone has heatstroke you should dial 999 and then try to cool them down.

How to protect yourself from the heat

Be prepared for hot weather

  • listen to the news and check your local weather forecast so that you know when hot weather is forecast
  • check air pollution forecasts and advice. Air pollution can become worse during hot weather. It can cause problems for people with asthma and other breathing problems

Limit physical activity

  • be active at cooler times
  • try to avoid activity, like exercise or gardening, during the hottest part of the day, between 11am and 3pm
  • if you need to be active, it’s best to do it in the early morning or evening, when it’s cooler
  • children should not take part in strenuous physical activities on very hot days.

Stay connected

  • check on higher risk family, friends and neighbours and if you are at higher risk, ask them to do the same for you
  • check if they are coping with the heat, know how to adapt their home and make sure they have everything they need.

Stay hydrated

  • drink plenty of fluids and limit your alcohol and caffeine intake
  • make sure you take water with you if you are travelling. Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol. Find out where to refill water bottles for free using the Refill app

Babies, children and older adults are more at risk of dehydration. More about dehydration  

Sun safety

  • stay in the shade, between 11am and 3pm when the sun is strongest
  • wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothes
  • wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face, eyes, head, ears, and neck
  • wear wraparound sunglasses with wide arms to provide protection from the sun
  • wear lots of sunscreen, apply it every 2 hours. The NHS recommends SPF 30 or high and good UVA protection (4 or 5 stars)

Visit NHS website on keeping your baby safe in the sun

You can find more information on sunscreen and sun safety, including how to apply sunscreen, on NHS.UK.

Keeping your home cool during hot weather

Keep heat out by covering windows

  • close blinds or curtains during the day to keep rooms cooler.

Allow ventilation to let hot air out and cool air in

  • keep windows closed during the hottest part of the day
  • once it’s cooler outside, open windows, to let cool air in and hot air escape
  • use electric fans to help move the air through your home. Fans are effective if the air temperature is below 35°C, but do not aim the fan at your body as this can lead to dehydration.

Turn off lights, appliances and heating

  • check that your heating is off
  • turn off lights and electrical equipment that are not in use
  • consider cooking at cooler times of the day
  • make sure rooms with heating systems and hot pipes are well ventilated.

Cool spaces

Cool spaces are indoor and outdoor areas where you can cool down on hot days.

Find a space to cool down

It may be cooler outside in the shade or in a public building.

Visit one of Barnet’s cool spaces to help you cool down.

Become a Cool Space

Help your community stay safe in the heat by registering your venue as a Cool Space. To become a cool space you must:

  1. be open to the public during specified hours
  2. provide access to free drinking water (water fountain or willingness to refill bottles)
  3. lower temperature than outdoors
  4. have seating available for visitors to rest
  5. be free to enter
  6. be accessible to disabled persons
  7. have toilet access (on-site or nearby)

Many cafés, shops, community centres, libraries in Barnet already tick these boxes.

Interested in signing up?

Register here or email barnetzero@barnet.gov.uk if you're interested in signing up.

Stay safe in water

During warm weather, going for a swim can be a welcome relief, but take care and follow local safety advice.

  • choose safe spaces to swim like public swimming pools and beaches with lifeguards
  • never enter the water after drinking alcohol
  • wear a buoyancy aid or life jacket if you are doing an activity out on the water or at the water’s edge such as boating or fishing
  • be aware that open water can be much colder than it looks which can lead to cold water shock
  • get out of the water as soon as you start to feel cold
  • swim parallel with the shore, not away from it
  • always go swimming with someone else so you can help each other out

You can find more information on water safety for babies, children and young people Water safety | Barnet Council

The Royal Life Saving Society has information about safe summer swimming

Staying ‘window safe’ this summer

In the UK, one child under 5 goes to hospital every day after falling from a building.

  • never leave a young child unattended near an open or unlocked window
  • fit and use safety catches, locks or window restrictors to windows
  • keep keys to window locks where you can find them (In case of fire or other emergency)
  • keep furniture and other objects away from windows to prevent children from climbing
  • do not teach children to open windows 
  • supervise children on balconies, keep balcony doors locked when not in use..

Support for rough sleepers during hot weather

If you see someone sleeping rough here are some simple things you can do:

  • smile, stop and say hello and ask how the person is doing
  • check if the person wants items such as water and sun cream. Umbrellas can also help people stay in the shade during particularly hot periods
  • make an alert via StreetLink.London. The alert will go to a local outreach service who will visit the person and aim to connect them with support
  • if you think the person is in immediate danger or needs urgent care, please call 999.

Further information and advice

If you or someone you know is vulnerable to heat or power loss, sign up to your energy, gas, or water supplier’s Priority Services Register. This gives you access to extra help during emergencies.