How to Keep Cool in Summer
Published: 31/05/2023
How to Keep Cool in Summer
In the UK, warm weather is usually welcomed but we often struggle in extreme heat which can pose several health risks. This year, Summer officially starts on Wednesday 21 June 2023. Each year, thousands of people are admitted to hospital as a result of heat-related ailments, such as severe sunburn, heat exhaustion or heatstroke. With temperatures set to rise in Fareham, Gosport, Southampton & New Forest East, during the coming weeks, here Right at Home Solent share their top tips for keeping safe and cool during the hot weather. Did you know? As reported by the Met Office, there are on average 2000 heat-related deaths every year. For some people - especially older people and those with underlying health conditions, as well as those who can't adapt their behaviour to keep cool or who are exposed to high levels of heat because of where they live or work - the summer heat can bring real health risks.
Can Hot Weather be Dangerous?
A heatwave can pose a number of health risks, particularly for those who are vulnerable, this includes babies, young children, older people and people with underlying health conditions or long term illness such as diabetes or Parkinson’s Disease. As all of our clients are either vulnerable, or elderly clients, everyone we Care for is at risk of being in danger after too much sun, or too much heat. As we age, we are less able to control our body temperature, as ageing decreases our ability to sweat. The NHS have outline the main risks of too much heat as:
- Dehydration
- Overheating
- Heat Exhaustion/Heatstroke
What are the signs of overheating?
If you know someone who is vulnerable or lives alone, check up on them to ensure they are coping with the heat. Heatstroke can kick in once your body temperature reaches 40c or above. The signs of heatstroke are similar to heat exhaustion, but the person may lose consciousness, have dry skin, stop sweating and/or have difficulty breathing. If you think you, or a loved one, is suffering from Heat Exhaustion, you try these things in an attempt to cool them down:
- Staying in a cool place
- Drinking lots of fluids
- Cool their skin - Using cool water and fans
If they don't start to cool down within 30 minutes, call 111.
How to Sleep in Hot Weather
During very warm spells, it’s common to struggle with getting to sleep. Here are some tips for you to sleep better during the Summer months:
- Before going to bed, soak your feet in cool water for 10 minutes. Heat is lost quicker through your feet and your head.
- Think about your sleep environment. Check the tog of your duvet, the higher the tog rating, the warmer the duvet. Replace a higher tog duvet with one between 2.5-7 tog.
- If you’re using a fan, keep the door open. This will allow for air to flow around the room.
- If you don’t have a fan, or the noise stops you from falling asleep, why not try filling up a hot water bottle with cold water to keep you cool?
- Hot weather can also make us feel tired. Avoid napping during the day though, as this could leave you struggling to get to sleep during the evening.
How to keep your House Cool in Summer
- Keeping your house cool can help stop you from becoming overheated. For rooms that face the sun, close the curtains to help keep rooms cooler.
- It can be tempting to open the windows during the day, but in order to keep your house cool, you need to keep the hot air out. Then at night, when the temperature has dropped outside, you can open the windows to allow fresh air to circulate round the house and cool it.
- Sometimes it may be cooler outdoors than indoors.
