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Heatwave safety tips: how to stay safe in hot weather
Simple hot weather advice to help you keep cool, feel well and look out for others.
Hot weather can be lovely. A chair in the garden, a walk to the shops, a cuppa with a neighbour, a bit of time in the sunshine. But during a heatwave, very hot days can also be risky, especially for older people, people with health conditions, young children, and anyone who may find it harder to keep cool.
The good news? A few small steps can make a real difference.
Here are some simple heatwave safety tips to help you stay cool in hot weather, keep your home comfortable, spot the signs of heat exhaustion, and check in on the people around you.
Follow DUCKS: a simple way to remember heatwave safety tips.
When the temperature rises, remember DUCKS.
D is for Drink: keep sipping water through the day. Don’t wait until you feel thirsty.
U is for Use shades: close curtains or blinds on sunny windows to stop rooms heating up.
C is for Check on others: a quick phone call or knock on the door could help someone avoid becoming unwell in the heat.
K is for Know the signs: headache, dizziness, sickness, cramps and extreme tiredness can all be warning signs of heat exhaustion.
S is for Stay cool: cool your skin with water, rest somewhere cooler, and avoid the strongest sun where possible.
How to stay cool in hot weather
Try to stay out of direct sun during the hottest part of the day, usually between 11am and 3pm.
If you need to go out, take water with you and look for shade along the way. Loose, light-coloured clothing can help you feel more comfortable. A hat and suncream are also important, especially if you are outside for more than a few minutes.
At home, think about the sunny side of your house or flat. Closing curtains or blinds during the day can stop heat building up indoors.
It may feel natural to open every window, but on very hot days this can make your home warmer. Open windows when the air outside feels cooler, often early in the morning or later in the evening.
A fan can help, but try not to blow hot air directly onto yourself if the room is already very hot. Cooling your skin with water can be more helpful. Try a cool shower, a damp cloth on your neck, or cool water on your wrists.
Drink water regularly to avoid dehydration in hot weather.
In hot weather, your body loses more fluid.
Keep a glass or bottle of water nearby and sip regularly through the day. This is especially important if you are busy, gardening, walking to the shops, caring for someone else, or sitting in a warm room.
Try not to have too much alcohol, caffeine or sugary drinks. These can make dehydration worse for some people.
If you are looking after someone else, gently remind them to drink too. Some people do not notice they are becoming dehydrated until they start to feel unwell.
Check on older neighbours, relatives and friends
Hot weather can be especially hard for people who live alone, have a long-term health condition, or are less mobile.
A quick check-in can help. You might call a relative, text a friend, or knock on a neighbour’s door. You do not need to make a big fuss. A simple “Are you keeping cool?” can be enough to start the conversation.
You could ask if they have had enough to drink, if they need anything from the shop, or if they know where to go if their home gets too hot.
Some people may not realise they are becoming unwell in the heat. Others may not want to ask for help. That is why a small act of kindness can matter.
Heat exhaustion symptoms: what to look out for.
Heat exhaustion can happen when the body gets too hot and struggles to cool down.
Someone with heat exhaustion may have a headache, feel dizzy, feel sick, have cramps, sweat a lot, develop a heat rash, feel very thirsty, have a high temperature, or feel weak and tired.
If this happens, move them somewhere cool, help them rest, give them cool water or a rehydration drink, remove unnecessary clothing, such as a jacket or socks.
Cool their skin with water, a fan, or cold packs wrapped in cloth placed under the armpits or on the neck.
They should start to feel better within 30 minutes. For non-emergency advice, call 111.
Heatstroke symptoms: when to call 999.
Heatstroke needs urgent medical help.
Call 999 immediately if someone is still unwell after 30 minutes of cooling, has a very high temperature, has hot skin and is not sweating, has a fast heartbeat, is breathing quickly, seems confused or uncoordinated, has a seizure or fit, or loses consciousness.
Do not wait. Move them somewhere cool while you wait for help.
Take extra care with alcohol and some drugs in hot weather
Alcohol and some drugs can make dehydration worse. They can also raise body temperature and make it harder to notice when you are becoming too hot.
If this affects you or someone you care about, take extra care during hot weather. Try to stay out of direct sun, drink water often, and ask someone to check in during the day.
Find a cool space near you
If your home becomes too hot, try to spend time somewhere cooler.
This might be a library, community centre, shaded park, shopping centre or local cool space.
Your local council may list cool spaces in your area. You can also ask at your local library.
A small Together TV heatwave challenge
Today, do three simple things:
Drink a glass of water.
Close the curtains on the sunny side of your home.
Check in with one person who may need support.
It’s a small act of care, for yourself and for your neighbour, or someone who may not ask for help until they really need it.
Stay cool at home with Together TV
If the heat makes going out harder, take it easy at home with Together TV.
This month, you can enjoy new episodes of Alan Titchmarsh’s Love Your Garden, countryside stories with Matt Baker in Our Dream Farm, real-life rescues in Lake District Rescue, and food stories with Rick Stein.
In July, look out for more feel-good viewing including Garden Rescue, Love Your Garden, Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes, This Farming Life, Celebrity Coach Trip and Rick Stein’s Food Stories.
Keep cool, keep water nearby, and enjoy a bit of company from your sofa.
You can watch Together TV on Freeview 83 | Sky 170 | Virgin 136 | Freesat 162 and online.