We’re going in to a month-long heatwave and today is the hottest day of the year so far!
Our climate in London and the UK has been showing some extremes of weather and it has been leaving us quite unprepared for what we have experienced in recent years. Whether this is the result of global warming and polar ice caps melting or just a cyclical phase, we have experienced the full gamut of extreme cold and extreme heat.
One type of extreme weather we are seeing more often is sudden heat waves even though we are usually a temperate climate. These hot temperatures affect everyday life and it is a challenge for everyone. Even if you have an air-conditioned home, the following tips will help you when the heat is on.
Open doors in the house and use fans to push the hot air outdoors. These fans act as an exhaust system and will draw cooler evening air inside the house. When evening falls, open all windows to promote as much air as circulation as possible. As soon as the sun is up in the morning, close all doors and windows and close all curtains and blinds to keep indoors cool for as long as possible. When the outside air temperature cools down to below the inside temperature – usually evening or nighttime, open up all doors and windows and switch on fans to expel the hot air and draw in the cool air.
Water is an instant cooler. When the heatwave is overpowering, soak your feet in a cold basin of water, take a cold shower or wet a towel and drape over the head and shoulders for relief. Keeping a spray bottle filled with ice cold water in the fridge means you can spritz your face and body throughout the day to keep cool. There are also aerosol products to achieve the same effect that supply instant cooling, available from the pharmacy. Running a cold tap over your wrists is a great cool down.
Heat rises so the upstairs of a house will be much hotter so consider sleeping under the stars or on the ground floor if it is going to be a sticky hot night.
Avoid using heat-producing equipment. Eat cold foods and salads and turn off all unnecessary heat generating appliances such as computers and light bulbs.
The most important thing you can do is to keep hydrated. Consume water often and in larger quantities than normal. It is very easy to become dehydrated and if you are sweating profusely, you may need electrolytes.
A simple homemade electrolyte solution is made from table salt: One level teaspoonful, sugar: Eight level teaspoonfuls, water: One litre. Drink a cup of this (200 ml) if you become excessively thirsty or start to develop a headache. Eating a small amount of food with a glass of water can also help replace electrolytes. Avoid alcohol and caffeine as both of these act as diuretics and may accelerate dehydration.
For a homemade “air conditioning” system, sit in the path of a fan that is aimed at a container filled with ice.
Visit public buildings with air conditioning during the hottest hours of the day if the heat becomes unbearable. Libraries, shopping centres, and cinemas can all be good places to cool down.
Do not eat large, protein-rich meals, as this will increase metabolic heat and warm the body.
Learn to recognise when a person has a heat related illnesses or heat emergency such as heat cramp, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and heat rash. Call the emergency services and try to cool the victim down until help arrives.
So we’re embarking on a month-long heatwave in London and during such extreme conditions many people look for a cooling solution for their homes. With extreme heat in the summer time and extreme cold in the winter most people opt for a complete all in one cooling and heating solution. We are extremely happy to advise you on the options available for your home – it is more affordable than you think.
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