Staying cool in a heat wave

You may not know this, but heat stroke is a life-threatening condition and can develop if heat exhaustion is left untreated. It is important to be aware of friends and neighbours during a heatwave and to let people know if you are on your own and have any concerns.

Here are our top tips for staying cool:

• Stay inside during the hottest time of the day
• Use sunscreen lotion of factor 15 or above
• When travelling always carry a bottle of water
• Limit activities like housework and gardening to cooler times of the day
• Wear lose, light weight, cotton clothing
• Drink lots of fluids and eat more cold foods such as salad and fruit, which contain water

What else can you do to stay cool?

Keep an eye on the weather reports, which will let you know if a heatwave is on its way. Also if you have breathing problems or a heart condition, your symptoms might get worse when it’s very hot, so it may be a good idea to contact your GP for advice.

Our guide takes you through how to avoid unpleasant side effects from the heat. It also explains how you recognise heat-related symptoms and what to do if someone shows signs of them. The guide also includes useful contact information.

Download our guide for more information:

Staying cool in a heatwave (PDF 102 KB)

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Healthy Eating (PDF 3,751 KB)

Healthy Living (PDF 2,367 KB)

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