Heatwave Plan Looking After Yourself and Others

7/27/2019 Heatwave Plan Looking After Yourself and Others

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May 2013May 2013

Looking after yourself and others during hot weather

The latest advice

Heatwave Plan orEngland 2013


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Heatwave Plan or England 2013 Looking ater yoursel and others during hot weather The latest advice 1

Heat can be harmul to your health key messages

1. In one hot spell in August 2003 in England, deaths in those aged 75 and over rose by60%, with approximately 2000 total extra deaths than would normally be expected.

2. Those with heart, respiratory and serious health problems are more at risk and the heatcan make these conditions worse. Babies and young children are also especially at risk.

3. Many prescription medicines can reduce your tolerance o heat. You should keep takingyour medicines, but take extra care to keep cool.

4. Danger symptoms to watch out or in hot weather include: eeling aint and dizzy, shorto breath, vomiting or increasing conusion.

5. Take immediate action i danger symptoms o heatstroke are present:

Cool down as quickly as possible (see the advice on the pages which ollow).

Do not take aspirin or paracetamol this can make you worse. Please note: do carryon taking all other prescribed medicines.

Seek urther advice rom NHS 111, a doctor, or ring 999 i the person has collapsed.

What should you do?

Mostly, its a matter o common sense. Listen to your local weather orecast so you know i aheatwave is on the way. Plan ahead to reduce the risk o ill health rom the heat.

Who is most at risk?

The heat can aect anyone, but some people run a greater risk o serious harm. Theseinclude:

Older people, especially those over 75.

Babies and young children.

People with serious mental health problems.

People on certain medication.

People with a serious chronic condition, particularly breathing or heart problems.

People who already have a high temperature rom an inection.

People who misuse alcohol or take illicit drugs.

People with mobility problems.

People who are physically active, like manual workers and athletes.


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2 Heatwave Plan or England 2013 Looking ater yoursel and others during hot weather The latest advice

Top tips or keeping cool

It is best or your health to avoid getting too hot in the rst place. Remember to think o thosewho may be more at risk rom the eects o heat. Below are some tips to keep yoursel andothers cool and what to do i someone eels unwell:

Stay out o the heat:

Keep out o the sun between 11.00am and 3.00pm.

I you have to go out in the heat, walk in the shade, apply sunscreen and wear a hat andlight scar.

Avoid extreme physical exertion. I you cant avoid strenuous outdoor activity, like sport,DIY or gardening, keep it or cooler parts o the day, like early morning or evening.

Wear light, loose-tting cotton clothes.

Cool yoursel down:

Have plenty o cold drinks, and avoid excess alcohol, caeine and hot drinks.

Eat cold oods, particularly salads and ruit 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 o your neck.

Keep your environment cool:

Keeping your living space cool is especially important or inants, the elderly or those withchronic health conditions or those who cant look ater 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 aternoon sun. However, care should be taken withmetal blinds and dark curtains, as these can absorb heat consider replacing or puttingrefective material in-between them and the window space.

Place a thermometer in your main living room and bedroom to keep a check on thetemperature.

Turn o non-essential lights and electrical equipment they generate heat.

Keep indoor plants and bowls o water in the house as evaporation helps cool the air.

I possible, move into a cooler room, especially or sleeping.


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Electric ans may provide some relie, i temperatures are below 35C. At temperaturesabove 35C ans may not prevent heat related illness and may cause dehydration. Theadvice is not to aim the an directly on the body and to have regular drinks. This isespecially important in the case o sick people conned to bed.

I you, or somebody you know, nd your home to be uncomortably hot and you haveconcerns about it aecting yours or someone elses health, seek medical advice about theperson, and seek advice rom the environmental health department within your local authorityabout the home.

In the Longer term:

Consider putting up external shading outside windows.

Use pale, refective external paints.

Have your lot and cavity walls insulated this keeps the heat in when it is cold and outwhen it is hot.

Grow trees and leay plants near windows to act as natural air-conditioners.

Look out or others:

Keep an eye on isolated, elderly, ill or very young people and make sure they are able tokeep cool.

Ensure that babies, children or elderly people are not let alone in stationary cars.

Check on elderly or sick neighbours, amily or riends every day during a heatwave.

Be alert and call a doctor or social services i someone is unwell o urther help is needed.

I you have a health problem:

Keep medicines below 25C or in the rerigerator (read the storage instructions on thepackaging).

Seek medical advice i you are suering rom a chronic medical condition or taking multiplemedications.

I you or others eel unwell:

Try to get help i you eel dizzy, weak, anxious or have intense thirst and headache; moveto a cool place as soon as possible and measure your body temperature.

Drink some water or ruit juice to rehydrate.

Rest immediately in a cool place i you have painul muscular cramps (particularly in thelegs, arms or abdomen, in many cases ater sustained exercise during very hot weather),and drink oral rehydration solutions containing electrolytes.

Medical attention is needed i heat cramps last more than one hour.

Consult your doctor i you eel unusual symptoms or i symptoms persist.


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4 Heatwave Plan or England 2013 Looking ater yoursel and others during hot weather The latest advice

Seek advice i you have any concerns: Contact your doctor, a pharmacist or NHS 111 i you are worried about your health during

a heatwave, especially i you are taking medication, i you eel unwell or have any unusualsymptoms.

Watch or cramp in your arms, legs or stomach, eelings o mild conusion, weakness orproblems sleeping.

I you have these symptoms, rest or several hours, keep cool and drink water or ruit juice.Seek medical advice i they get worse or dont go away.

I you suspect someone has heatstroke:

Remember, heatstroke can kill. It can develop very suddenly, and rapidly lead tounconsciousness. I you suspect someone has heatstroke, call 999 immediately.

While waiting or the ambulance

I possible, move the person somewhere cooler.

Increase ventilation by opening windows or using a an.

Cool them down as quickly as possibly by loosening their clothes, sprinkling them withcold water or wrapping them in a damp sheet.

I they are conscious, give them water or ruit juice to drink.

Do not give them aspirin or paracetamol.


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Further inormation

Check the weather orecast and any high temperature health warnings at:www.metoice.gov.uk

For urther inormation about how to protect your health during a heatwave visit NHSChoices at: NHS Choices at www.nhs.uk/summerhealth

Advice on ways to minimise ultraviolet ray induced skin and eye damage can be ound in

the Public Health England sunsense guide ound in the Health Protection Agency/PublicHealth England sunsense guidehttp://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/Radiation/UnderstandingRadiation/InormationSheets/ino_SunsensePoster/

Heatwaves may worsen air pollution. I you would like more inormation about air pollutionin the UK or health advice to those who may be particularly sensitive to air pollution there isan automated reephone recorded inormation service run by Dera on 0800 55 66 77, orDera website (http://uk-air.dera.gov.uk/).
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/http://www.nhs.uk/summerhealthhttp://www.nhs.uk/summerhealthhttp://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/Radiation/UnderstandingRadiation/InformationSheets/info_SunsensePoster/http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/Radiation/UnderstandingRadiation/InformationSheets/info_SunsensePoster/http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/Radiation/UnderstandingRadiation/InformationSheets/info_SunsensePoster/http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/Radiation/UnderstandingRadiation/InformationSheets/info_SunsensePoster/http://www.nhs.uk/summerhealthhttp://www.metoffice.gov.uk/


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This document is available in otherformats on request.Please call: 020 8327 7018or email: [email protected]

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Heatwave Plan Looking After Yourself and Others