Temperatures across the UK are set to reach almost 40C
Many of us in the UK don’t have air conditioning but instead, rely on fans and desk fans. When the temperatures soar people can often be found resorting to fanning themselves with documents from desks or magazines to keep cool.
But there is one mistake many of us make, which could actually be making us hotter. According to consumer champions, Which?, you should never turn your shower dial to zero.
It explains: “Don’t be tempted to turn the dial right round to freezing when having a shower. If your body is subjected to extreme cold, it will try to regulate its core temperature by retaining heat.
“This will increase blood flow to your skin to warm it up, making you feel even hotter. Taking a cold shower might make you feel better for a short time, but your best option is using cool or lukewarm water, and then letting yourself air dry rather than towel-drying yourself.
“The action of water evaporating off your skin will create a cooling effect on the surface of your skin.” This is not the only handy piece of cooling advice from the consumer champion.
There is also a surprising mistake you could be making before heading to bed. It advises people against sleeping naked and recommends wearing one type of clothing instead.
It explains: “Trying to sleep in a heatwave can be torture, and you may think the easiest way to keep cool at night is to completely strip off. In fact, it’s best to wear some clothes, provided they are thin, loose and cotton-based.
“They will act as a wick for sweat, increasing the surface area for sweat to evaporate from and helping you feel cooler. If you’re a hot sleeper, it may also be worth investing in a cooling mattress.”
What are the signs of heat exhaustion?
The NHS notes that symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
- tiredness
- dizziness
- headache
- feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
- excessive sweating and skin becoming pale and clammy (a change in skin colour can be harder to see on brown or black skin)
- cramps in the arms, legs and stomach
- a high temperature
- being very thirsty
- feeling irritable
It adds: “The symptoms of heat exhaustion are often the same in adults and children. If someone is showing signs of heat exhaustion they need to be cooled down and given fluids.”
What are the signs of heatstroke?
The symptoms of heatstroke, accoridng to the NHS, include:
- a very high temperature
- hot skin without sweating
- fast breathing and a fast heartbeat
- confusion and restlessness
- seizure (fit)
- loss of consciousness
It adds: “Heatstroke is a medical emergency. Get immediate medical help if someone has the symptoms of heatstroke.”
