With a new heatwave this week and tomorrow's predicted high breaking past 30 degrees for certain parts of the UK, most Brits aren't prepared to take care of themselves in such high heat. Dr Ian Cole at the King Edward VII hospital has some top tips on how to stay cool and avoid the worst of the sun to prevent heat-related illnesses.
Naturally, it’s better to avoid heat-related illnesses by staying cool. If you’re worried about your wellbeing during a heatwave, or someone else’s, there are a number of things you can do to keep cool.
Stay out of the sun. This might seem miserly in the middle of a beautiful summer, but you can still sit in the shade. Stay indoors for the hottest parts of the day (11am until 3pm), preferably in a cool or air-conditioned place.
If it’s hot outside, keep the windows closed and pull down shades or close the curtains (use light-coloured curtains) when indoors. This might seem counterintuitive, but it helps to keep the heat out. Open the windows once it has cooled down outside for ventilation.
Cool (not cold) baths or showers can help you cool down. You can also splash yourself with cool water.
Drink plenty of liquids. Water is best, and tea and coffee in moderation. Juice, smoothies and soft drinks have a lot of sugar in them, so too much could contribute to dehydration.
Wear loose, cool and comfortable clothing, preferably made from lightweight and breathable fabrics like cotton or linen. Wear a hat and sunglasses outdoors.
Fans help with airflow, but don’t rely on them to cool down; if it’s hot, all they can do is move warm air around. That said, placing a bowl of ice cubes in front of a fan can help cool the air down.
