A run of hot days can make homes, especially top-floor flats, dangerously warm. Be Ready lists older adults, babies and young children, pregnant people, people with underlying health conditions and people who live alone among those most at risk.
Watch the alerts
The UK Health Security Agency issues weather-health alerts for heat in England (yellow, amber and red), and the Met Office issues its own weather warnings. Be Ready advises paying particular attention to any Heat Health Alerts covering your area.
Keep the house cool
- Shade and close windows and curtains, especially in rooms that face the sun, and open windows when the air feels cooler, such as at night (Be Ready).
- Turn off lights and electrical equipment you are not using (UKHSA).
- Know which room stays coolest and use it in the afternoon.
- Keep medicines in a cool place, as the packet says. UKHSA notes that some medicines need to be stored below 25°C.
Look after people
- Drink plenty of fluids, and more if you are active. UKHSA says water, diluted squash and lower-fat milks are good choices.
- Stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, when UV levels are highest. Wear a hat and use sunscreen (NHS).
- Never leave babies, children, older adults or pets in a parked car or other closed space: they can get dangerously hot very quickly (Be Ready).
- Call or visit older relatives and neighbours. They may not feel the heat until they are unwell.
Heat exhaustion and heatstroke
Signs of heat exhaustion include a headache, dizziness, feeling sick, heavy sweating, cramps, a fast pulse and being very thirsty. The NHS gives 4 steps: move them to a cool place, remove all unnecessary clothing, give them plenty of water (a sports drink or rehydration drink is fine), and cool their skin by spraying or sponging them with cool water and fanning them. They should start to feel better within 30 minutes.
Per the NHS, call 999 if they are no better after 30 minutes of cooling, or if they are confused, stop sweating while still feeling hot, have a fit, or become unresponsive. That can be heatstroke, which is an emergency.
Pets, food and water
- Walk dogs early in the morning or late in the evening. If the pavement is too hot for the back of your hand, it is too hot for paws.
- Give pets shade and plenty of fresh water.
- Keep the fridge between 0 and 5°C (FSA) and do not leave picnic food out for long.
- Heatwaves can bring hosepipe bans and low water pressure. A few bottles of stored water helps; see our emergency water guide.