Cheshire East issues advice on how to keep cool and safe in the heatwave

Cheshire East Council is urging people to stay safe and well in the hot summer sun.

It follows a forecast of temperatures set to soar again and the Met Office heatwave warning being raised to ‘level three’.

The latest advice issued on how to look after yourself and others during hot weather is as follows:

● Stay out of the heat;

● Keep out of the sun between 11am and 3pm;

● If you have to go out in the heat, walk in the shade, apply sunscreen and wear a hat and light scarf;

● Check up on friends, relatives and neighbours, who may be less able to look after themselves;

● Avoid extreme physical exertion. If you can’t avoid strenuous outdoor activity, like sport, DIY or gardening, keep it for cooler parts of the day, like early morning or evening;

● Wear light, loose-fitting cotton clothes;

● Cool yourself down. Have plenty of cold drinks and avoid excess alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks;

● Eat cold foods, particularly salads and fruit with a high water content;

● Take a short cool shower, shallow bath or body wash;

● Sprinkle water over the skin or clothing or keep a damp cloth on the back of your neck;

● Keep your environment cool. Keeping your living space cool is especially important for infants, the elderly or those with chronic health conditions or those who can’t look after 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 afternoon sun. However, care should be taken with metal blinds and dark curtains, as these can absorb heat – consider replacing or putting reflective material in-between them and the window space;

● Place a thermometer in your main living room and bedroom to keep a check on the temperature;

● Turn off non-essential lights and electrical equipment – they generate heat;

● Keep indoor plants and bowls of water in the house as evaporation helps cool the air;

● If possible, move into a cooler room, especially for sleeping; and

● Electric fans may provide some relief, if temperatures are below 35C. At temperatures above 35C fans may not prevent heat-related illness and may cause dehydration. The advice is not to aim the fan directly on the body and to have regular drinks.

People are also being urged to avoid swimming in open water, including reservoirs, rivers or canal locks, because of the risk of drowning due to unseen hazards and the shock caused by entering very cold, deep water.

Residents and visitors are also being urged to dispose of cigarette and cigar ends safely, given the current high risk of moorland or grass fires and to not discard glass on open ground, as this could magnify sunlight and start a blaze.

For further information about coping during hot weather, visit the NHS webpage:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/heatwave-how-to-cope-in-hot-weather/