List of ten heatwave tips for the over-50s
Once the initial joy over finally seeing some sun subsides, going about your day during a heatwave can be difficult.
According to Telegraph, here is a list of ten helpful tips to ensure you get through this heatwave with ease.
1. Stock up on sunscreen
The sun is at its strongest point between 11am and 3pm, so make sure you’re covered in sunscreen if you’re likely to be outside during these times. Cancer Research UK recommends the use of at least a factor 15 sunscreen.
If you’re unsure about how powerful the sun is during other times of the day, the Met Office recommends checking your shadow: “If your shadow is shorter than you are, then the sun is strong.”
• This is how suncream actually protects your skin
2. Eat a balanced diet
As well as regulating your weight, your metabolism also keeps your body temperature at the right level. As it gets warmer, you body doesn’t need to work as hard to maintain your body temperature and you can often lose your appetite – especially if you’re not used to the hot weather.
This means you lose a lot of salt through sweating. Make sure to eat a balanced diet to keep your salt levels normal so your body doesn’t overheat.
3. Turn off your electricals
Keep the number of electrical appliances you have turned on to a minimum. Laptops, light bulbs, ovens, microwaves, and other electrical appliances generate unnecessary heat.
4. Avoid alcohol
As tempting as it might be to pop open a bottle of your favourite wine and recline in your garden, alcohol can promote dehydration. It acts as a diuretic, meaning you urinate more than usual after drinking. If you can’t resist a glass, make sure you drink plenty of water alongside it to replace the lost fluids.
• Drinking wine every night hasn’t done me any harm
5. Walk
Public transport can be a nightmare during the best of times. Combine that with hundreds of hot and sweaty commuters and public transport services without air conditioning, it’s a recipe for disaster. If you can walk to your destination, opt for that instead. But remember to stay in the shade. If public transport is unavoidable, make sure to bring a bottle of water with you.
• There’s nowhere to go in London for peace and quiet
6. Wear lightweight clothes
The NHS recommends wearing loose, breathable and lightweight clothing, in light colours, specifically cotton and linen.
7. Avoid physical exertion
Activities such as outdoor exercise, DIY and gardening should be avoided during a heatwave. If you feel compelled to do them, leave it until the cooler parts of the day like the early morning or evening.
• Most frequent gym-goers are not who you think they are
8. Get indoor plants
Place indoor plants and bowls of water around your home as the evaporation helps cool the air.
9. Avoid electric fans
In extreme temperatures, reaching above 35°C, electric fans may cause dehydration instead of providing relief from the heat. Don’t aim the fan directly at your body and have regular drinks. This is especially important if you are ill and confined to bed during a heatwave.
10. Look out for your pets
Remember your pets aren’t immune to high temperatures. In 2014, the British Veterinary Association reported that 48 per cent of vets treated animals for conditions related to hot weather. Make sure they have plenty of fresh, clean water to drink, and avoid exercising them at the hottest points of the day.
The PDSA also recommends trimming your pet’s fur at the beginning of the summer to help them keep cool.
*This article was published in Telegraph newspaper on June 30, 2015.
