Hot weather: How to stay cool in a heatwave - five top tips as temperatures reach 30C
HOT WEATHER can make for uncomfortable sleeping, so how can you stay cool during a heatwave?
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"Heatwave conditions” are likely this week according to the Met Office, with the temperature likely to get above 30C in many areas. So with the mercury rising, there are plenty of simple ways you can keep cool. Express.co.uk has collated five top tips for keeping cool during a heatwave.
Block out sunlight with blinds, shutters or curtains
To keep your house cool during a heatwave, you can take simple steps at home to block direct sunlight.
Lucy Askew, spokesperson for www.hillarys.co.uk, said: “Keeping your house cool is essential during a heatwave and, if you find that your house lets in direct sunlight, especially in the afternoon, you could find that conditions quickly become unbearable.
“If your house does experience more sunlight throughout the day then it’s recommended you keep your curtains, shutters and blinds shut to stop the sunlight from beaming into your home.
“This will keep things marginally cooler and slightly more bearable during heatwaves.”
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Keep hydrated
It’s important to drink lots of water during a heatwave to keep hydrated.
Drinking plenty of cold drinks will help to keep you cool and prevent dehydration.
Avoid excess alcohol or extreme exercise in a heatwave as this could increase your risk of heat exhaustion or heatstroke.
Taking cool baths and showers will also help you to keep cool during a heatwave.
Pay attention to your body
It is important to take care of yourself and others during a heatwave and look out for any signs of illness.
Boots Pharmacist Janky Raja told The Sun: "If you start to feel at all unwell, with symptoms such as a headache, dizziness, excessive sweating or a fast pulse, you may be experiencing heat exhaustion.
"If untreated, heat exhaustion can turn into heatstroke, which is much more serious."
If you believe you or someone else is suffering with heat exhaustion, move them to a cool place and get them to lie down and drink plenty of water.
If their condition doesn’t improve after 30 minutes and the person is showing signs of heatstroke the NHS website states to call 999.
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Choose light clothing
Light-coloured clothing will help you to keep cooler during a heatwave.
It’s also a good idea to wear more loose-fitting clothing, as this will be much more comfortable in the heat.
When the temperature rises, choose more breathable fabrics like cotton or linen.
Stay out of direct sunlight
The NHS recommends you avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm to prevent heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
The sun is at its strongest in the UK during this period, so it is best to stay out of direct sunlight during these hours.
During a heatwave, it's also important to wear sunscreen, to help prevent sunburn.