UK weather: Health alert in force – here’s how to stay cool in the heat
A yellow heat health alert is in force across most of England and will remain in place until Thursday evening.
Temperatures are expected to climb as high as 31C (88F), bringing increased pressure on the NHS.
As the country swelters, here are some of the best ways to stay cool from forecasters and authorities across Europe, including the NHS.
Stay hydrated
It may seem like an obvious one, but drinking plenty of water is often overlooked.
Cool down from the inside out by staying hydrated with plenty of liquids. It is recommended to drink between 1.5 and 2 litres per day.
A dog cools off in the River Thames. Pic: PA
Taking cool baths or showers will also help you keep cool, according to the NHS.
Avoid alcohol
Bad news for some, but forecasters advise against drinking alcohol in the intense heat, as well as teas and coffees, which act as diuretics and can cause dehydration.
Read more: Find out the latest forecast for your area
Pyjamas in the freezer
During the day, place your pillowcase or pyjamas in the freezer. Take them out before going to bed. Hopefully they will cool you down and help you sleep better.
Throughout the day, wearing loose, cool clothing and a hat and sunglasses will also help.
And wearing lighter coloured clothes will keep you cooler.
…and flannels
Sticking a flannel in the freezer can be especially refreshing to place on your forehead as you lie in bed.
Turn on the fan
Fans can help your body regulate its internal temperature – and sticking a pan of ice cubes in front of it can make the circulating air even cooler.
If you haven’t got one handy, fill a hot water bottle with cold water instead.
Dump the duvet
Thin cotton sheets will absorb sweat and are more comfortable than duvets.
Your body temperature will begin falling during the night – so hopefully you won’t feel warm and uncomfortable for too long.
How to sleep better at night
It can be all too easy to start feeling annoyed and exasperated when you’re struggling to sleep.
The best thing to do is to try to distract yourself with a relaxing activity such as reading – and try going back to bed when you’re tired.
Avoid the temptation to go on your phone, as this activity can stimulate you.
Close windows
While it might seem counterintuitive, keeping windows closed and drawing the blinds during the peak heat will keep rooms cooler.
Open windows for ventilation when it is cooler outside.
Heat rises… so sleep on the lower floor
If your home has several floors, it might be worth sleeping downstairs. Spend more time in the coolest room in the house.
Plan ahead
If you are planning to spend time outside, plan your day to make sure you have plenty of food, water and any medications needed.
The NHS says that anyone vulnerable to the effects of heat should avoid the sun during the hottest part of the day, which is usually between 11am and 3pm.
Ensure you have sun cream, even if you aren’t prone to burning. Apply at least SPF15 with UVA protection.
Keep pets shaded
Owners may worry about how to keep their pets cool.
For starters, don’t keep them in the car and when home, the Humane Society advises keeping pets in the shade or air-conditioned area.
Apply ice packs or cold towers to their head, neck and chest.
Try this tip from the Royal Navy
Royal Navy officers have been submerging their hands in cold water to cool down faster since the 1990s.
Research has shown colder water speeds up the rate of cooling – with core temperature reduced by around one degree for every 10 minutes of hand immersion in 15C water.
This technique has also been adopted by athletes who need to cool down rapidly when alternating between rest and movement.
Pic: AP
Put ice on your pulse points
Applying ice to the wrists and side of the neck can help to lower body heat as the blood vessels in those areas are close to the skin’s surface.
The government has been temporarily blocked from concluding the Chagos Islands deal by a late-night High Court injunction.
Ministers had been expected to complete a deal that would have seen the UK hand over sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius in the coming hours.
But in an emergency injunction granted early on Thursday, brought against the Foreign Office, Mr Justice Goose allowed “interim relief” to Bertrice Pompe, who had previously taken steps to bring legal action over the deal.
Ms Pompe is a Chagossian woman who sees the deal as a betrayal of their rights.
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The order, granted at 2.25am, states the government may take “no conclusive or legally binding step to conclude its negotiations concerning the possible transfer of the British Indian Ocean Territory, also known as the Chagos Archipelago, to a foreign government or bind itself as to the particular terms of any such transfer”.
A hearing is taking place at the High Court this morning, with crowds gathered in support of the block.
The location of the Chagos Islands
The government insisted this morning the Chagos Islands deal is the “right thing” for the UK.
A spokesperson said: “We do not comment on ongoing legal cases. This deal is the right thing to protect the British people and our national security.”
It was expected that Sir Keir Starmer would attend a virtual ceremony today to formally hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, despite heavy criticism from the Conservatives and Reform UK.
The government has argued international legal rulings in favour of Mauritius mean this handover is necessary.
As part of the deal, the UK will lease back a military base on the archipelago for 99 years.
Robert Jenrick, the former justice secretary, told Sky News that the Chagos Islands deal is a “sell-out for British interests”.
He said: “You’re seeing British sovereign territory being given away to an ally of China and billions of pounds of British taxpayers money being spent for the privilege.
“So, if this group can force the government to think twice, then all power to them.”
With this injunction in place, Sir Keir can no longer legally complete the deal.
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Ms Pompe, who filed the application for interim relief, believes the British government is acting with disregard for the human rights of the Chagossian people.
She has argued completion of the deal would amount to a breach of the Human Rights Act and the Equality Act.
Chagossians are the former residents of the Chagos Islands, who were removed from the islands, predominantly to Mauritius, between the mid-1960s and early-1970s.
Those born on the islands and their children hold British nationality, but subsequent generations born outside British territory have no entitlement to it.
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