Let’s Beat the Heat

Keep your house cool

• Keep your windows, curtains and blinds closed in the daytime, as this keeps out the heat.
• Open your windows in the evening when it starts to cool outside, and give the hot air a chance to escape.

Keep yourself cool

• Stay hydrated – always keep a bottle or glass of water with you and sip it throughout the day. Your mouth should never be dry and your wee should be a pale straw colour!
• Try to stay indoors or in the shade between 11am and 3pm, as this is the hottest part of the day.

Look after other people

• When it’s hot, visit older neighbours or relatives to check they’re staying out of the sun, continuing to drink lots and eating a balanced diet.
• Offer to go shopping or run errands for them, as this means they don’t have to go out into the extreme heat.

Dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke

• Make sure you’re drinking lots of water (aim for 6-8 glasses a day, and more if it’s very hot) and eating a balanced diet so your body replaces the salt lost when you sweat.
• The symptoms of heat exhaustion include headaches, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, intense thirst, heavy sweating and a fast pulse. Find out what to do if you experience any of these symptoms.

 

The symptoms of heat exhaustion include headaches, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, intense thirst, heavy sweating and a fast pulse.

Heatstroke can develop if heat exhaustion is left untreated. Symptoms of heatstroke include confusion, disorientation, seizures and loss of consciousness. This can be life threatening. If you or someone else shows symptoms:

• call 999 immediately
• if you have a community alarm, press the button on your pendant to call for help