Keep Cool Leeds

In recent years the UK has seen record high temperatures, with extreme heat expected to become more common place as average temperatures continue to rise.

Extreme heat and heat-related illnesses can be very dangerous, especially to older people, pregnant people, babies, and young children. It is important to keep cool both at home and when you need to be out and about.

Top Tips

Stay hydrated - drink plenty of water and cool drinks through the day.

Know the signs - don't be afraid to call 111 if you are concerned about feeling unwell or 999 if it is an emergency.

Stay informed - sign up to heat-health and alerts from the Met Office.

There are certain factors that increase a person’s risk during hot weather.

age: older individuals, especially those over 65 years old, as well as babies and young children aged 5 years and under are at risk in hot weather.
isolation: some people who live on their own who look after themselves, especially when they are socially isolated, can be at greater risk.
medical conditions: some medical conditions reduce the body’s ability to adapt to heat, these include things such as heart and breathing problems, dementia, diabetes, kidney disease, Parkinson’s disease. People with reduced mobility, serious mental health conditions and pregnant people can also be at risk.
medication: medications that potentially affect heart or kidney function, cognition, or a person’s ability to sweat.
air pollution: air quality can become worse during hot weather and can increase risk for people with asthma and other respiratory conditions.

If you are concerned about the effects of hot weather on your health, please speak to a pharmacist or your GP for specific advice on how hot weather may affect your condition.

We all want to enjoy the hot weather and one way to do that is to make sure we are prepared so it is important to plan ahead

Before the hot weather arrives its good to think about how to protect yourself and others from the heat. This includes

thinking about which is the coolest room in your home? This is usually a ground floor room which is north facing.
checking if you cover or shade windows exposed to direct sunlight. External shutters and shades are very effective but internal blinds, curtains and reflective films provide relief and are cheaper and easier to install if you don’t already have them.
checking that your windows and vents are working and can be opened if need be.
checking that fridges, freezers and fans are working properly.
checking that medications can be stored according to their instructions.
making sure that you have a sun hat and sunscreen available.

During the hot weather there are simple things we can do to stay well when at home and out and about.

There are some ideas which will help you keep your house cool and save some money at the same time.

Open windows and doors early in the morning and late in the evening to allow cool air to circulate. If you open more than one you can create cross currents to help the air circulate. Make sure to close them before the heat starts to build to keep the hot air out
A fan doesn't actually make a room cooler but they are useful to help circulate air if you have limited windows to create air currents.
Your body uses more energy to regulate your body temperature after an ice-cold drink. Try drinking cool drinks instead and avoid alcohol and too much caffeine.
Keep a damp flannel in your freezer and use it to cool "pulse points" like the wrists and neck to help you feel cooler. You could even put our nightclothes or bedding in there to give you that initial cool down.

It nice to stay at home and stay cool where we can but it is also nice to enjoy the sun and get on with our day to day lives.

Older people, babies and young children and people who have certain health conditions need to take extra precautions to avoid heat related illnesses like

Sunburn - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

and

Heat exhaustion and heatstroke - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

There are many steps you can take to prevent heat related illnesses when out and about including

only going outside during cooler parts of the day, early in the morning and in the evening.
wearing light weight, light-coloured, loosely fitted clothing
protecting the head by wearing a wide brimmed hat or using an umbrella
staying hydrated, especially if working or exercising
using sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more
take frequent breaks by finding a cool space in which to rest

If you have to go out and become concerned about your health you can speak to a pharmacist or 111 for advice and guidance and 999 in an emergency.

With extreme heat set to be a regular feature it may be worth considering other, larger changes to your home to help keep things cooler in the summer with the benefit that they help you stay warm in winter as well.

fitting reflective film on windows to prevent sunlight and heat from entering or keep curtains and blinds closed to keep the sunlight out.
installing blinds or swapping curtains for thermal blackout curtains also help keep the heat and sun out.
swap old style lightbulbs for LED's and keeping non-essential electrical items off. This reduces ambient heat created by motors and older technologies and helps keep your house that bit cooler

installing and improving insulation to your loft and cavity
installing double or triple glazed windows in stead of single glaze
installing solar panels to make maximum use of the strong sun and help reduce energy bills

Find out about making your home more energy efficient and financial support available from Leeds City Council.

An important step in hot weather preparedness is keeping in touch.

Connect with family, friends and neighbours to make sure everyone is prepared for hot weather. You can also speak to community based organisations to find out how they can support you and your loved ones.

Find out what support is available in your local community.

Last updated: 29/01/2025

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