Extreme heat warning - advice on how to stay safe | News

The Met Office has issued an Amber Extreme Heat warning from Monday through to Thursday, with temperatures widely exceeding 35°C. We're sharing advice to help families stay safe during the hot weather.

When the weather is this hot, you should keep out of the sun between 11am and 3pm. If you have to go out in the heat, walk in the shade, apply sunscreen and wear a hat and a light scarf. Keep babies and young children out of direct sunlight.

Use sunscreen with at least SPF 30, and make sure it has UVA and UVB protection, with a four-star rating and symbol on the bottle. Apply it liberally and frequently throughout the day.  

Try and keep cool throughout the day - here’s our top tips:

• Have plenty of cold drinks, and avoid excess alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks

• Eat cold foods, particularly salads and fruit with a high water content

• Take a cool shower, bath or body wash

• Sprinkle water over the skin or clothing, or keep a damp cloth on the back of your neck

• keeping your living space cool is especially important for infants, the elderly or those with chronic health conditions or who can’t look after themselves

• keep windows that are exposed to the sun closed during the day, and open windows at night when the temperature has dropped

• close curtains that receive morning or afternoon sun. However, care should be taken with metal blinds and dark curtains, as these can absorb heat – consider replacing or putting reflective material in between them and the window space

• turn off non-essential lights and electrical equipment – they generate heat

If you have a health problem:

• keep medicines below 25°C or in the refrigerator (read the storage instructions on the packaging)

• check you know how to seek medical advice if you are suffering from a chronic medical condition or taking multiple medications and become unwell in the heat

On very hot days, people should also be aware of the risks of heat exhaustion. Symptoms include:

• headaches

• dizziness

• confusion,

• loss of appetite

• feeling sick

• cramps

• fast breathing  

• fast pulse  

• high temperature

Children can also become floppy and sleepy.

Someone with potential heat exhaustion should move to a cool place, lie down, drink plenty of water and gently cool their skin with a cold compress and fan. Families find more advice on nhs.uk, as well as when to call 999 if symptoms worsen and they develop heatstroke.

For more advice on how to keep safe and cool during a heatwave, visit our dedicated webpage.