The UK is currently experiencing unprecedented hot weather and has done for many weeks. While heat waves have always happened on occasion, longer periods with temperatures of around 30 degrees are fast becoming the “new normal” for British summertime.
While you might be enjoying the sunnier days, it could be difficult to do your daily tasks comfortably. For some, the heat even poses health risks – sadly, the Met Office expects around 2,700 excess deaths to have occurred in England and Wales due to the May and June 2026 heatwaves.
Although we can’t control the weather, there are ways to remain safe and healthy during a heatwave. Here are three tips to consider this summer.
1. Prioritise sun protection
Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can cause skin damage and other health side effects that are best avoided, including:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Tiredness
- Dehydration
If you spend lots of time out in the sunshine, it’s a good idea to wear appropriate sun protection.
As a first port of call, wearing sunscreen on exposed skin every day is a habit worth picking up. The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that regular daily use of SPF 15 or higher could reduce your risk of developing certain types of skin cancer by up to 50%.
Plus, there’s an anti-ageing perk to sunscreen – you could reduce the appearance of wrinkles and sunspots by protecting your skin from UV.
There are other ways to protect yourself from the sun, too, including:
- Wearing long sleeves and trousers made from light material such as linen
- Keeping your face and neck in the shade by wearing a hat
- Wearing sunglasses, ideally polarised, to protect your eyes from UV rays
- Staying indoors during the hottest part of the day.
We’ve previously done a deep dive on the UV index and how to protect yourself from the sun, so make sure you read it in full if you want to learn more.
2. Stay hydrated
Our bodies are designed to cool us down by sweating. If we don’t replace the fluids we lose when we sweat, it can lead to illness as serious as heatstroke.
Heatstroke occurs when your core body temperature rises to 40 degrees or higher due to prolonged exposure to the sun, too much physical exertion, or both, and it can unfortunately be life-threatening. The symptoms include fever, a racing heart, dizziness, confusion, and vomiting.
Even if you don’t develop heatstroke, being very dehydrated in a heatwave can be uncomfortable, causing symptoms like a throbbing headache, fatigue, and very low physical energy.
Although it feels self-explanatory, many of us don’t drink enough water when the weather is hot. The NHS says that on top of the usual 1.5 to 2.5 litres of water people should drink in our usual climate, additional fluids might be needed to remain hydrated during a heatwave.
It could be useful to purchase a reusable water bottle or two that you can refill and carry with you when you’re not at home. You could even store them in the fridge to keep the water or juice cool.
3. Keep your home cool
Most British homes aren’t designed with hot weather in mind. While it is common to have pre-installed air conditioning in mainland Europe and the US, UK homes have not yet caught up and could become very hot very quickly.
What’s more, most of us simply open a window when it’s warm and expect the room to cool down. But in fact, you could be making your home even hotter.
Here’s what the Red Cross says about keeping your home cool in a heatwave:
- Close the curtains during the day if the room gets full sun
- Keep windows closed during the day to keep hot air out, and open them when it cools down
- Use fans to circulate air – although if your home reaches 35 degrees, this may not be effective
- Turn off all unnecessary appliances and radiators to avoid generating more heat.
If you have a pet, it could be useful to lay a damp towel down for them to lie on or even rub them down with one to keep them cool. Make sure they’re drinking lots of water, too.
Keeping your home cool can be an adjustment, but it might improve your sleep and general wellbeing.
Following these three tips will allow you to make the most of the sun while also staying safe.
Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.
All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.