Looking after yourself in this hot weather
Check out our handy tips to help you beat the heat.
As the days get hotter, we wanted to share some tips and tricks to help you stay safe and cool.
Although it's nice to enjoy this weather, some of us can be especially vulnerable to the heat. For example, children and older people who are at a higher risk of dehydration, heatstroke, and exhaustion.
We also know that there are increased fire safety risks when it gets hot. That’s why we’re sharing advice from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service to help you stay fire safe during the summer.
Check out our list of helpful tips and resources that everyone can use to stay safe and have fun in the sun.
In hot weather, it’s a good idea to:
- Avoid being out in the sun during the hottest part of the day (11am and 3pm) and plan your day to avoid heavy activity during extreme heat.
- If you're out and about during the hot weather, be as prepared as possible, making sure you have everything you need with you – such as a bottle of water, sun cream, and a hat.
- When out in the heat, walk in the shade, keep suntan lotion topped up, and make sure clothing is light.
- Dress for the weather – wear lightweight clothes that are loose-fitting and light coloured. At home, wear as little clothing as you need to keep cool.
- Drink lots and avoid alcohol – staying hydrated is really important during spells of hot weather, as becoming dehydrated can lead you to suffer from heat exhaustion.
- Keep your home cool – you can do this by opening your windows, turning off lights, using blinds and curtains to block the sun, and keeping bowls of ice-cold water in rooms around your house.
Some people can struggle with heat exhaustion during warmer weather. We've collated a list of some of the signs to look out for if someone is suffering from heat exhaustion.
These include:
- Tiredness
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Feeling sick or being sick
- Excessive sweating and skin becoming pale and clammy, or getting a heat rash
- Cramps in the arms, legs, and stomach
- Fast breathing or heartbeat
- A high temperature
- Being very thirsty
- Weakness
It’s important to note that the symptoms of heat exhaustion are often the same in adults and children, although children may become irritable too. If someone is showing signs of heat exhaustion, they need to be cooled down and given fluids straight away. Those suffering from heat exhaustion don’t usually need emergency medical help if they’re able to cool down within 30 minutes. However, if it turns into heatstroke, it needs to be treated as an emergency.
Find out more about heat exhaustion and heatstroke using the NHS website.
- Make sure your barbecue is on a safe, flat surface and well away from fences, plants, garden furniture, and other flammable items.
- Only use barbecue lighter fuel or firelighters to start your barbecue, never use petrol, paraffin, or other flammable liquids.
- Once your barbecue is lit, never add more liquid fuel.
- Keep children and pets well away from your barbecue.
- Keep a bucket of water nearby in case of accidents/emergencies. When you've finished cooking, always extinguish the coals on the barbecue using water.
You can find further barbecue safety guidance on the GMFRS website.
As flats are generally hotter than houses, we appreciate that our customers living in flats may struggle more with high temperatures throughout the summer.
Following our top tips for keeping your home cool will help you keep temperatures down.
However, please remember, no matter how hot your flat is:
- Don’t BBQ or discard cigarettes butts on your balcony.
- Don’t wedge fire doors open in the building.
- Don’t overload electrical sockets.
Further balcony safety guidance can be found on the GMFRS website.
