The amazing summer of the last 8 weeks seems a distant memory, but if the weather gurus are to be believed round 2 should be on it’s way soon… here are some tips for surviving and thriving.

 

For those with young children or elderly relatives, a heat wave can be a worrying time and some of the practical tips here should help to keep temperatures down and help you to enjoy British summer time. Clearly, while many people enjoy the warm weather, it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Here we have listed 5 top tips for keeping cool in the summer.

 

1. Stay Hydrated

 

The number one rule here is the most important one: staying hydrated. When you are experiencing heatwave conditions, your body is likely to be using large amounts of water to stay cool – mostly by sweating. Replacing this water will help to keep you cool and hydrated and avoid the bad effects that come with dehydration. As many medics will attest, dehydration only becomes apparent when it can be too late. Keeping hydrated can help offset some of the effects of the heat and let you enjoy it safely.

 

2. Stay Indoors

 

Another option for staying safe during the current heat wave is staying indoors. Enjoying the sunshine is great, but with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees most days, a lot of people are not used to, and cannot cope with such extreme heat. If you do need to go out, be mindful of staying out of direct sunlight and covering up to prevent sunburn. Try not to do anything too strenuous and you should be fine. If you are going to exercise, ensure you are well covered, hydrated and ventilated.

 

3. Keep The Sun Out

 

If you are going to stay indoors during the heatwave, you should ensure that if you have blinds or curtains that you close them. Whilst this may not have a dramatic effect, it will prevent some of the heat from building up in your home and should reflect some of it back out of your windows. Your house should be a little cooler than it would have been as a result.

 

4. Keep The Cooler Air In

 

As well as keeping curtains and blinds closed, you may want to consider keeping windows and doors closed as well. Often, the air in your home will actually be cooler than the ambient air temperature outside. By keeping the windows and doors shut, you will avoid swapping cooler air for warmer air and will keep your home cooler. At night the opposite should be the case, it will be best to open the windows (if you can securely) to take advantage of any breeze and hopefully cooler air temperatures.

 

5. Use Water Spray

 

Another option is to use water spray to keep cool. For those who do not have an air conditioning unit, a simple water spray and fan can help to keep you cool. Often it is the humidity that is produced in a heat wave that causes you to feel as hot as you do. Humidity prevents your body from sweating properly and bringing your body temperature down. A way to “hack” this process is to spray water on yourself and sit in front of a fan. While not exactly the same, it is a good alternative to sweating in humid conditions.

 

 

In Summary

 

As you can see, you don’t have to suffer during a heatwave, use these 5 tips and you should be able to make the whole experience of a heat wave a little more bearable. If you are struggling in the heat then always bear in mind that you are in Britain and the warmth is likely to be replaced by fog, rain, lightning or snow at any minute!