Heatwaves

Despite the UK’s chilly reputation, we occasionally experience extreme heat during the summer. A heatwave can potentially be dangerous, particularly for some more vulnerable groups. Be prepared for a heatwave by taking the following steps to ensure awareness and reduce the effects of a heatwave on yourself, your family and members of your community.

• Early warnings
• Be prepared and take action to protect yourself and others
• Vulnerable people and groups at higher risk
• Heatwave Plan for England
• Cool spaces and free water refills
• Further advice and guidance
• Resources for professionals

Early warnings

Be aware of the situation. In addition to watching the news and listening to radio updates, to stay informed you could:

• Visit the Met Office website (external link) for updates and weather forecasts
• Follow the Met Office (external link) alerts so you are prepared for hot weather. 
• Social media - emergency updates will be published on our social media channels:
  • Twitter: follow @haringeycouncil (external link)
  • Facebook: find us on Facebook (external link)

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Be prepared and take action to protect yourself and others

Before hot weather arrives, think about what you can do to protect yourself and your family and friends from heat. 

• Make sure you drink plenty of water. Consider purchasing bottled water for your home in case of water supply disruption.
• Make sure you have enough food stored for a few days so you can avoid going out in the sun if necessary.

Be aware of the following advice from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) (external link) on protecting your health and reducing harm from severe heat and heatwave:

Stay out of the heat

• At the hottest part of the day (11am to 3pm) try to stay out of the sun. If you have to go out in the heat, walk in the shade, apply sunscreen and wear a hat or light scarf to protect yourself from the sun.
• Take water with you when travelling away from home and drink regularly throughout the day to avoid dehydration.
• Avoid extreme physical activity.
• Wear light, loose-fitting cotton clothes.

Cool yourself down

• Drink plenty of cold drinks and avoid excess alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks.
• Eat cold foods, particularly salads and fruit with higher water content.
• Take a cool shower, bath or body wash.
• Sprinkle water over your skin or clothing, or keep a damp cloth on the back of your neck.

Keep your environment cool

• 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.
• Place a thermometer in your main living room and bedroom to keep a check on the temperature.
• 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 and afternoon sun. However, care should be taken with metal blinds and dark curtains, as these can absorb heat - consider replacing them or putting reflective material in-between them and the window space.
• Turn off non-essential lights and electrical equipment -they generate heat.
• Keep indoor plants and bowls of water in the house as evaporation helps cool the air.
• If possible, move into a cooler room, especially for sleeping.
• If temperatures are below 35°C electric fans may provide some relief.

Longer-term

• Consider putting up external shading outside windows.
• Use pale, reflective external paints.
• Have your loft and cavity walls insulated – this keeps the heat in when it is cold and out when it is hot.
• Grow trees and leafy plants near windows to act as natural air-conditioners.

Look out for others

• Keep an eye on isolated, elderly, ill or very young people and make sure they are able to keep cool.
• Make sure babies, children or elderly people are not left alone in stationary cars.
• Check on elderly or sick neighbours, family or friends every day during a heatwave
• Be alert and call a doctor or social services if someone is unwell or further help is needed.
• If you have a health problem:
  • Keep medicines below 25°C or in the refrigerator (read the storage instructions on the packaging).
  • Seek medical advice if you are suffering from a chronic medical condition or taking multiple medications.

If you or others feel unwell

• Try to get help if you feel dizzy, weak, anxious or have intense thirst and headache; move to a cool place as soon as possible and measure your body temperature.
• Drink some water or fruit juice to rehydrate.
• If you start to experience painful muscular spasms (particularly in the legs, arms or abdomen, in many cases after sustained exercise during very hot weather) rest immediately in a cool place and drink oral rehydration solutions containing electrolytes. Medical attention should be sought if heat cramps last more than one hour.
• Consult your doctor if you feel unusual symptoms or if symptoms persist.

Keep your pets cool

• Pets should be kept inside where it is cooler.
• Small animals are particularly susceptible to heat - if you are unable to bring them indoors, move their cage into the shade. You could also drape their cage with wet towels and provide an ice-pack or frozen water bottle for them to lean against.
• Ensure that there is plenty of fresh, cool water in large containers for all animals. Be sure to provide numerous water sources in case one is spilt.
• If you have a dog, consider filling a paddling pool with water so they can wade in the water to keep cool (hard surface paddling pools are best due to claws).
• Walk dogs during the coolness of the early mornings. You should always check the heat of the tarmac before walking them to ensure they don't burn their paws.
• If your pet seems to be in discomfort, try wetting its feet or dampening its face - this is an option for dogs, cats, ferrets, poultry and caged birds who control their inner temperature through their feet.

Visit the RSPCA website for seasonal advice for animal welfare (external link).

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Vulnerable people and groups at higher risk

Anyone can be impacted by the effects of hot weather however those most at risk include:

• Over 75s
• Young children and babies
• People with chronic conditions or disabilities
• Those living in urban areas or south-facing top flats
• Those experiencing homelessness or rough sleeping 
• People with alcohol and/or drug dependency

See the NHS website for more information on how to cope during hot weather (external link).  

The Haringey Learning Disabilities Partnership provides information for people with learning disabilities, staff and carers on coping with hot weather.

Check on neighbours who may be less able to look after themselves and ensure they have taken the above steps to be prepared. If you are concerned about someone who is vulnerable during a period of hot weather please contact Connected Communities at connectedcommunities@haringey.gov.uk. 

Find out more about Connected Communities.

Rough Sleeping in Hot Weather 

As part of Haringey's Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP), during periods of severe weather, we provide enhanced welfare checks, shelter from the sun, sun-cream and water to people that are rough sleeping in the borough. Access to this provision is via the Haringey Street Outreach Team. If you are concerned about someone who is sleeping rough during severe weather, please refer them to Streetlink (external link).

Heatwave Plan for England

The Heatwave Plan for England developed and maintained by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) contains practical things we can all do to minimise the risks to our health in hot weather. If you are a local agency, you should familiarise yourself with the plan for further details on how to support the people you work with.

The plan offers advice and resources that can help individuals and organisations to prepare for, alert people to, and prevent, the major avoidable effects on health during periods of hot weather. 

• Read the UKHSA's Heatwave Plan for England (external link).
• Easy read version of the Heatwave Plan for England: Keeping healthy when it is really hot (external link).

Cool spaces and free water refills 

If you are struggling to cope with the heat, there are a number designated indoor 'Cool Spaces' in Haringey as well as shaded outdoor spaces that residents can access for relief from the heat. Find a cool space near you on this interactive map (external link).

To find out where you can refill your water bottle for free in the borough download the Refill app (external link). 

Further advice and guidance 

Hot weather can be a significant cause of ill health and mortality, particularly for vulnerable people if they are unable to adjust to high temperatures without assistance.

• Check with the NHS for signs of heat exhaustion or heatstroke (external link).
• Follow the NHS summer health advice (external link).
• Visit the Met Office Health and Wellbeing pages (external link) for useful information on how to cope with extremely hot weather, hay fever, pollen, UV lighting and more. 

Resources For Professionals 

• Supporting vulnerable people before and during a heatwave: for care home managers and staff (external link).
• Supporting vulnerable people before and during a heatwave: for health and social care professionals (external link).
• Looking after children and those in early years settings during heatwaves: for teachers and professionals (external link).
• Go to Heatwave Plan for England (external link) for more resources including leaflets and posters

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