Staying Safe in Hot Weather

A Level 4 UK Health Security Agency Heat Health Alert has been issued for Monday 18th July and Tuesday 19th July. This is level of alert is used when a heatwave is so severe and/or prolonged that its effects extend outside the health and social care system. At this level, illness may occur among the fit and healthy, and not just in high-risk groups.

See details below for guidance on how to make the most of your visit to York and how to enjoy the city safely in the heat.

Please ensure you check with individual attractions, venues and travel operators before visiting. Contact details for all venues can be found on the Visit York website.

See details below for enjoying York safely in the heat. Further details can be found here - https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2022...

Plan ahead to avoid the heat

Why this is important

It is best to avoid getting too hot in the first place.

If you plan ahead you can avoid situations where you become dangerously hot.

What you can do

Avoid being out in the sun during the hottest part of the day (around midday) and plan your day to avoid heavy activity during extreme heat.

Bring everything you will need with you, such as a bottle of water, sun cream and a hat.

If you have to go out in the heat, walk in the shade, apply sunscreen, and wear a hat and light clothing.

Be prepared, as heatwaves can affect transport services and you might need extra water.

Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol

Why this is important

Everyone is at risk of dehydration in hot temperatures, but babies, children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable.

Fluid requirements are higher than normal in hot weather and after strenuous activity, to replace fluids lost through sweating.

What you can do

Drink plenty of fluids: water, lower fat milks and tea and coffee are good options.

Fruit juice, smoothies and soft drinks do count towards your fluid intake, but can be high in sugar. Limit fruit juice or smoothies to a combined total of 150ml a day and swap sugary soft drinks for diet, sugar-free or no added sugar varieties.

Look out for signs of dehydration such as increased thirst, a dry mouth, dark urine, and urinating infrequently or small amounts. Serious dehydration needs urgent medical attention.

If you are fasting for Ramadan during a heat wave, it is important to drink before dawn and follow the advice here to keep cool and prevent dehydration. If you become dehydrated you should break the fast in order to re-hydrate, this can be compensated by fasting at a later date. People with certain conditions should not fast.

Dress appropriately for the weather

Why this is important

Dressing appropriately can protect you from the sun’s radiation and keep you cool to prevent heat related illness.

Children are particularly at risk of skin damage from the sun.

What you can do

If you have to go out in the heat, walk in the shade and wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light coloured cotton clothes.

Wear suitable head wear, such as a wide-brimmed hat, to reduce exposure to the face, eyes, head and neck.

When exposed to direct sunlight, cover your skin with clothing giving good protection; examples are long-sleeved shirts and loose clothing with a close weave. At home wear as little clothing as necessary.

Sunglasses should exclude both direct and peripheral exposure of the eye to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, so a wraparound design is best.

Apply sunblock, or broad-spectrum sunscreens, with high sun protection factor (SPF) of at least SPF 15 with UVA protection regularly to exposed skin.

Slow down when it’s hot

Why this is important

Heavy activity can make you prone to heat related illnesses.

What you can do

Avoid extreme physical exertion. If you can’t avoid strenuous outdoor activity, such as sport, DIY or gardening, keep it for cooler parts of the day – for example, in the early morning or evening.

Children should not take part in vigorous physical activity on very hot days, such as when temperatures are above 30°C.

Find somewhere cool

Know how to keep your home cool

Why this is important

Even during a relatively cool summer, 1 in 5 homes are likely to overheat.

For many people, this makes life uncomfortable and sleeping difficult.

Some people are particularly vulnerable to heat and for them a hot home can worsen existing health conditions, or even kill.

What you can do

In preparation for warmer weather, use our simple checklist to find out if your home is at risk of overheating and what you can do if there is a problem. You can view and download the checklist here.

Shade or cover windows exposed to direct sunlight, external shutters or shades are very effective, while internal blinds or curtains are less effective but cheaper.

Metallic blinds and dark curtains can make a room hotter.

Open windows when the air feels cooler outside than inside, for example, at night. Try to get air flowing through your home, if possible.

Turn off the central heating.

Turn off lights and electrical equipment that aren’t in use.

Use electric fans if the temperature is below 35°C, but do not aim the fan directly at the body and ensure you stay hydrated with regular drinks.

Check that fridges, freezers and fans are working properly.

If insulating your home, ask for advice about avoiding overheating in summer.

Consider the risk of overheating if buying or renting, particularly for vulnerable people.

If you have concerns about an uncomfortably hot home that is affecting your health or someone else’s health, seek medical advice.

Get help from the environmental health department within your local authority; they can do a home hazard assessment.

If considering home improvements to reduce overheating, you can get help and advice from Foundations or, if you are elderly, FirstStop may be able to help (contact details listed below).

Cars get hot, avoid closed spaces

Why this is important

Small closed spaces, such as cars, can get dangerously hot very quickly.

Some people, especially babies, young children and older people find it harder to stay cool.

They may not be able to move themselves to a cool place if they are dependent on others.

What you can do

Ensure that babies, children or older people are not left alone in stationary cars or other closed spaces.

Look out for children in prams or pushchairs in hot weather; keep them in the shade, remove excess clothing, ensure there is adequate air flow, and check regularly to ensure they are not overheated.

For more information about how to identify if a baby/child is overheated, visit NHS Choices.

Watch out

Be on the lookout for signs of heat related illness

Why this is important

Chronic illnesses can get worse in hot weather.

Heat exhaustion and heatstroke are two potentially serious conditions that can occur if you get too hot:

• heat exhaustion is where you become very hot and start to lose water or salt from your body. Common symptoms include weakness, feeling faint, headache, muscle cramps, feeling sick, heavy sweating and intense thirst

• heatstroke is where the body is no longer able to cool itself and a person’s body temperature becomes dangerously high. Heatstroke is less common, but more serious. Untreated symptoms include confusion, seizures and loss of consciousness

What you can do

You can find out more, such as common signs and symptoms to look out for on NHS Choices

Cool your skin with water, slow down and drink water

Why this is important

If heat exhaustion isn’t spotted and treated early on, there’s a risk it could lead to heatstroke. Untreated heatstroke can be fatal.

What you can do

If you notice that someone has signs of heat related illness, you should:

• get them to lie down in a cool place – such as a room with air conditioning or somewhere in the shade

• remove any unnecessary clothing to expose as much of their skin as possible

• cool their skin with cool water, you could use a cool wet sponge or flannel, cool water spray, cold packs around the neck and armpits, or wrap them in a cool, wet sheet

• fan their skin while it’s moist – this will help the water to evaporate, which will help their skin cool down – an electric fan could be helpful to create an air current if the temperature is below 35oC, but fans can cause excess dehydration so they should not be aimed directly on the body and will not be enough to keep them cool at temperatures above 35oC

• get them to drink fluids – these should ideally be water, lower fat milks, or a rehydration treatment,

• do not give them aspirin or paracetamol – this can put the body under more strain, they should carry on taking all other prescribed medicines unless advised not to by a medical professional

• stay with the person until they’re feeling better. Most people should start to recover within 30 minutes

Get help. Call NHS 111 or in an emergency 999

Why this is important

Severe heat exhaustion or heatstroke requires hospital treatment.

What you can do

If a person has improved with the cooling advice above but you still have concerns about them, contact your GP or NHS 111 for advice.

You should call 999 for an ambulance if the person:

• doesn’t respond to the above cooling treatments within 30 minutes

• has severe symptoms, such as a loss of consciousness, confusion or seizures

If the person is unconscious, you should follow the steps above and place them in the recovery position until help arrives. If they have a seizure, move nearby objects out of the way to prevent injury.