Most advice on staying well during hot weather is common sense, but some people run a greater risk of harm.
These include older people, babies and young children and people with a serious chronic condition, particularly dementia, heart or breathing problems and diabetes.
Advice for older people
Elderly people, and particularly over 75s, are more vulnerable to very hot weather than younger adults. This is due to a combination of factors.
Firstly, because the kidneys become less active over time, they become less efficient at producing a hormone which tells us we’re dehydrated and makes us thirsty.
Older people are also more likely to have a chronic medical condition that changes normal body responses to heat. They’re also more likely to take prescription medicines that impair the body’s ability to regulate its temperature or that limit or stop sweating.
As well as our more general advice on staying well during summer, our hot weather tips for the elderly include:
- Make sure that either yourself or loved ones have a good supply of food, household essentials and medication. This can help avoid emergency outings in the hottest part of the day (between 11am – 3pm).
- Try to book any essential appointments for the morning or late afternoons. This will help you avoid the day’s heat.
- If you’re caring for someone with dementia, try to make sure they stay hydrated. You may have noticed that the person you care for forgets or is reluctant to drink. Try to encourage them by having a social (decaf) coffee or tea and make sure they have a drink with meals. You could also tempt them with fresh fruit, salads or jellies, as these all have high water content.
Dehydration symptoms in the elderly
Symptoms of dehydration or heat exhaustion and heatstroke in the elderly are the same as younger adults and children. However, many of the symptoms are not exclusive, and can be easily mistaken for symptoms of pre-existing conditions.
Dehydration symptoms include:
- dryness of the mouth, lips and tongue
- sunken eyes
- dry inelastic skin
- drowsiness, confusion or disorientation
- dizziness and low blood pressure
Symptoms of heatstroke or heat exhaustion include
- headache
- dizziness and confusion
- loss of appetite and feeling sick
- excessive sweating and pale, clammy skin
- cramps in the arms, legs and stomach
- fast breathing or pulse
- temperature of 38°C or above
- being very thirsty
If you spot any of these signs either in yourself or someone you care for, please contact NHS 111.
Advice for parents and guardians of children and babies
Babies less than six months old should be kept out of direct sunlight and older infants should also be kept out of the sun as much as possible. Attach a sunshade to your baby’s pushchair, make sure they wear a sunhat and apply a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to your baby’s skin.
Make sure older children also have a high-factor sun cream regularly applied during the day. Don’t forget to apply it to the tops of their ears and the back of their neck. Make sure they wear a T-shirt and sun hat and spend some time in the shade.
Ensure children have plenty of drinks. They might be too busy playing and running around to bother to stop for a drink. Don’t offer them lots of sugary, fizzy drinks; give them water, watered-down fruit juice and the occasional ice lolly to keep them well hydrated.
Don’t leave babies and young children in the car in hot weather. Even 20 minutes in a hot car can lead to heat stroke.