Hot weather

Prolonged periods of hot, dry weather can impact us in many ways. It can take its toll on our health, particularly with the elderly and young, and it can increase the risk of outdoor fires which impacts people's safety.

Actions you can take to stay safe in hot weather

In warmer weather, keep an eye out for Met Office warnings. The Met Office tracks weather and issues a weather warning if a heatwave is predicted.

Much of the advice to follow is common sense. Below is advice from health organisations to help you cope in the warmer weather:

• keep out of the sun at the hottest time of the day, between 11am to 3pm
• if you do go outside, cover up with suitable clothing such as an appropriate hat and sunglasses, seek shade and apply sunscreen of at least SPF15
• drink plenty of fluids and limit your alcohol intake
• if you are going to do a physical activity (for example exercise or walking the dog), plan to do these during times of the day when it is cooler such as the morning or evening
• check on family, friends and neighbours who may be at higher risk of becoming unwell, and if you are at higher risk, ask them to do the same for you
• never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially older people, infants, young children or animals
• children should not take part in vigorous physical activity on very hot days, such as when temperatures are above 30°C
• try to keep your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun, and opening your windows at cooler times of the day and overnight
• know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them

How to cope in hot weather

Information about how to cope in hot weather can be found on the NHS website.

The UKHSA has also released guidance to Beat the Heat, which can be found on the Government's website.

Preventing fires

During periods of hot weather and no rain, when grass, vegetation and shrubland are very dry, there is a greater risk of fires starting outdoors. You can help prevent outdoor fires by following top tips from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service.