Met Office Amber Extreme Heat Warnings have been issued from Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd June with temperatures widely exceeding 35°C. A Red warning on Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th June has also been issued as temperatures are likely to reach around 40°C in London.
Although many people enjoy warmer, summer weather, anyone can become unwell if they get too hot. People can become unwell through overheating, dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Who is most at risk?
Hot weather can affect anyone, but some people face a higher risk of being impacted by heat. Some of the groups who may be most at risk are:
- Older adults.
- Babies and young children.
- Pregnant women
- People with underlying health conditions (particularly heart and breathing problems).
- People who are physically active and spend a lot of time outdoors (e.g., runners, cyclists, manual labour jobs).
- People experiencing homelessness.
- People who live alone and may be unable to care for themselves.
- Those who live in top floor flats, or homes with restricted or limited windows.
Actions you can take
- Drink plenty of fluids. If you are going out, take a refillable bottle filled with water.
- Keep out of the sun as much as possible at the hottest time of the day (between 11am and 3pm).
- Wear lightweight loose-fitting light-coloured clothes, and if you go outside, seek shade, apply suncream generously and frequently, and cover up with appropriate clothing (e.g. sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat).
- Keep your home cool by shading and closing windows and curtains, especially in rooms that face the sun, and opening windows when the air feels cooler (e.g., at night).
- know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them
- During hot weather, it may be cooler outside (in the shade) or in a public building (such as places of worship, local libraries, or supermarkets): visiting these places may be an alternative way of cooling down if you are able to safely travel there without putting yourself at risk from the heat.
- Small, closed spaces such as stationary cars can get dangerously hot very quickly. Make sure that babies, children, older adults and pets are not left alone in stationary cars or other closed spaces. Take extra water for journeys on public transport or by car.
- If you go swimming (either in a public pool or open water), read advice on safe summer swimming from the Royal Life Saving Society.
- Visit the government’s ‘beat the heat‘ website for more guidance.