“Temperatures are likely to peak at around 32°C in south-east England on Tuesday and Wednesday, with much of the UK experiencing dry, fine and warm conditions in the first half of the week.”
The UK Health Security Agency has also issued a number of yellow heat-health alerts warning of risk to vulnerable people in Yorkshire and Humber, East and West Midlands, the East of England, London, the South West and the South East. The alerts in place until 11pm on Wednesday (31 July).
The UKHSA said there is “potential for significant impacts to be observed across the health and social care sector due to the high temperatures… leading to increased risk to vulnerable people living independently in the community”.
But, in most areas, it is unlikely that the upturn in temperatures will be classed as a heatwave as cooler weather is set to return over the weekend.
Here are some tips for those unsure how to help someone sleeping rough in high temperatures.
Watch out for signs of heatstroke and heat-related illness
The NHS lists the some of the signs of heat exhaustion as:
- a 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
- a high temperature of 38C or above
- being very thirsty
If you think someone has heatstroke you need to help them find somewhere to cool down immediately.
These are the steps to take to according to the NHS:
- Move them to a cool place.
- Get them to lie down and raise their feet slightly.
- Get them to drink plenty of water. Sports or rehydration drinks are OK.
- Cool their skin – spray or sponge them with cool water and fan them. Cold packs around the armpits or neck are good too.
Call 999 immediately if they start to breathe quickly or have shortness of breath, have a seizure, lose consciousness, or are not responsive.
Ask your local council if they will activate Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP)
When extreme weather poses a health risk, councils can activate Severe Weather Emergency Protocols.
These can be activated in response to high winds, freezing temperatures and snow as well as extreme heat. It’s up to the council whether they decide to activate Swep. While most local authorities are likely to open up places to shelter and reach out to rough sleepers under Swep, it is at the discretion of each authority.
If you believe your council should be activating Swep, you can contact them to let them know.
Donate some sun cream
A simple way to help a disadvantaged person through the summer months is to give them a bottle of sun cream, whether it’s newly bought or a spare you had at home (as long as you haven’t had it for long – sunscreen can expire).
Give out frozen water bottles
It can sometimes be tricky for people sleeping rough to locate good drinking water, and it becomes even more of a challenge in summer when they need to cool down and stay hydrated. If you plan to give away a bottle of water, stick it in the freezer the night before, so it will stay cold for longer and can also cool sticky foreheads. Even better, find out where your nearest water refill stations are and make sure the person has that information going forward.
If you give a person food, opt for ingredients which contain a lot of water such as juicy fruit or vegetables to help them stay hydrated.
Be generous with hats and sunglasses
It’s easy to underestimate the health-saving impact of sun hats and shades during the summer if we need only reach into a wardrobe to fish some out. But they can make a real difference in fending off sun and heatstroke, particularly to people who might not be able to escape the hot sun in a UK heatwave.
Paul Brocklehurst, senior helpline manager at Centrepoint, said: “If you have a spare umbrella, you can give this to someone sleeping rough to offer some respite from the sun. Spare bottles of sunscreen, even those partly used, can provide vital protection too. So can caps, hats and sunglasses, which prevent sunstroke and eye damage.”
Donate a fan
A handheld fan can be a gamechanger for someone who can’t head indoors out of the sun or into air-conditioned buildings during a UK heatwave. Umbrellas can offer a person shade if they have nowhere else to go, too.
If you see someone in need of medical attention in hot weather, don’t hesitate to call 999 to get them the help they need. Other expert organisations can offer support to those left without a home, including Streetlink — who will be sure to put you in touch with your local frontline services — Centrepoint, St Mungos, Crisis, Shelter and more.
Centrepoint’s Brocklehurst added: “If you see someone suffering from sunstroke or needing urgent medical attention due to the heat, or for anything else don’t hesitate to call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
“For vulnerable young people sleeping rough you can also contact the free Centrepoint helpline. We can signpost young people to services that can provide them with safe accommodation.”
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