Tips for staying cool in a heatwave

Age UK has published some tips on how to keep yourself cool in a heatwave.

1. Don’t spend long periods sitting or working outside during the hottest time of the day: late morning to mid-afternoon
2. If you’re travelling by car or public transport always take a bottle of water
3. Avoid strenuous activity, and limit activities like housework and gardening to the early morning or evening when it’s cooler
4. When inside, try to stay in the coolest parts of your home. Keep curtains and blinds closed in rooms that catch the sun
5. Keep windows shut while it’s cooler inside than out and open them when it gets hotter inside. If it’s safe, you could leave a window open at night when it’s cooler
6. Wear loose, lightweight, light-coloured, cotton clothing.
7. Take cool baths or showers
8. Splash your face with cool (not very cold) water, or place a damp cloth on the back of your neck to help you cool off
9. Drink lots of fluid – even if you aren’t thirsty
10. Eat normally – even if you aren’t hungry, you need a normal diet to replace salt losses from sweating. In addition, try to have more cold foods, particularly salads and fruit, as these contain a lot of water