NHS Beat the heat campaign

This month Public Health England have asked us to promote their Beat the Heat campaign. They have the following advice:

Keep in touch

Look after yourself, older people and the young. A heatwave can affect anyone, but the most vulnerable people are older people, especially those over 75,babies and young children.  Overheating can make symptoms worse for people who already have some underlying health conditions for example problems with their heart or breathing. People who are physically active – for example, labourers or those doing sports may also be affected more than other people. Keep in contact with older friends, relatives and neighbours, to make sure that they are okay. You can also listen to the weather forecast and the news, as well as to alerts on the radio, TV and social media about keeping cool, so that you can plan ahead.

Keep well

Drink plenty of water, but cut back on alcohol and caffeinated drinks (tea, coffee and cola) or drinks high in sugar. Dress appropriately for the weather and use suitable sun protection. Have cool baths or showers, and splash yourself with cool water. You may need to slow down in hot weather, particularly if you have problems with your heart or breathing.

Find somewhere cool

Know how to keep your house cool, for example you might choose to shut windows and pull down the shades when it is hotter outside. You can open the windows for ventilation when it is cooler. Go wherever is cooler inside or out. Avoid the heat: stay out of the sun and don’t go out between 11am and 3pm (the hottest part of the day) if you’re vulnerable to the effects of heat. Cars get hot avoid, closed spaces.

Watch out for signs of heat related illness

Watch out for signs of heat related illness. The signs of heat exhaustion include:

• headache
• dizziness and confusion
• loss of appetite and feeling sick
• excessive sweating and pale, clammy skin
• cramps in the arms, legs and stomach
• fast breathing or pulse
• temperature of 38C or above
• intense thirst

The symptoms are often the same in adults and children, although children may become floppy and sleepy.

If someone is showing signs of heat exhaustion they need to be cooled down. For more information visit the NHS choices website.