Practical things to do in a heatwave…

Help your community

Check on people who might be especially vulnerable to heat and might not be able to make adaptations on their own for example:

*Help people with opening/closing windows and curtains

*Help people with mobility issues to easier access to fluids (eg getting them a jug or bottle of water to have near where they sit

*If you have a spare fan lending it to someone in need.

*Signposting to services that may be available – particularly for people who don’t have access to /or use the internet

Outdoor workers, manual workers and delivery people don’t have the option to work at home and may not be able to change their hours to suit the temperature – if you feel comfortable doing so consider putting a sign on your door to let them know they can fill up their water bottles / use your loo. If you have people working in or on your property make sure they know they can help themselves to water.

Help nature out

*Water young trees and newly planted shrubs alongside roads/paths

 *Put out a shallow dish of water for wildlife

Help prevent fires

*Pick up litter – particularly glass, paper, discarded vapes etc – anything that might cause a fire or fuel one

*Don’t use portable/disposable barbecues in public places – if you use them in your own home make sure that they aren’t on dry grass or other flammable surfaces and make sure they are completely put out when you have finished.

*Avoid setting off fireworks

Keep your neighbourhood safe

Open doors and windows are a boon to opportunistic thieves – keep an eye out for each other and alert neighbours and/or the police to any suspicious activity.

Help yourself and your pets

• how to cope in hot weather – NHS heatwave advice
• keeping babies and young children safe in the heat – NHS
• sunscreen and sun safety – NHS sunscreen safety
• water safety – Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents website, Royal Lifesaving Society UK summer safety and UKHSA – wild swimming safety tips
• animal welfare advice for summer – RSPCA website
• keeping your medications safe in hot weather – GOV.UK
• exercising safely in the heat – Nuffield Health website

Some extra tips from Eco Action on staying cool

Use your windows. Open them in the early morning and late evening, shut them once it’s hotter outside than in. Counterintuitive, but shutting your home up during peak heat keeps it significantly cooler. A cheap thermometer inside and outside takes the guesswork out.

Use fans wisely. At around 3p per hour, a fan is one of the lowest-energy cooling options going. Face it inward at a window to pull cool air in rather than circulate warm air around. But switch it off above 35°C. At that point it blows air hotter than your skin and heats you up.

Staying cool at night.  A cold-water hot water bottle at the foot of the bed, and a spray bottle on the bedside table, both help more than you’d expect.

Change when you do things. Exercise, cooking, and errands done in the early morning or evening make a big difference. Avoid using the oven during peak heat it raises kitchen temperatures by several degrees. Hydrate steadily throughout the day, not just when thirsty. Since our summers are looking more like southern Europe’s temperature wise, we need to adjust our lifestyles to match the summer heat.