In this section

During hot weather, keep yourself, your home and community safe

When temperatures soar, we all need to keep a cool head when it comes to our safety.

Remember - if you do have an emergency, always call 999

But there’s lots we can do to avoid emergencies in the first place –

  • You are not allowed to have a barbeque on your balcony due to the high risk of fire spread.
  • You should be mindful of the risk posed by garden barbecues, bonfires and open water,
  • Dispose of cigarettes and matches carefully.
  • Make sure you stay hydrated by drinking enough water, avoid overheating particularly for older people, babies and the very young, those who have problems with their heart or breathing or those who live alone. Look out for signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke Heatwave: how to cope in hot weather - NHS (www.nhs.uk).
  • Check in on vulnerable relatives, friends and neighbours who might struggle to cope with the heat.

Handy hot weather tips:

  • Close the curtains on rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler.
  • Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol.
  • Never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children, or animals.
  • Try to keep out of the sun between 11am and 3 pm.
  • Avoid exercising and walking dogs during the hottest parts of the day and remember to test the temperature of the pavement to see if it is too hot for your dog to walk on and always take water.
  • If you are going to open water to cool down, take care and follow local safety advice

Remember if you or someone else feels unwell with a high temperature during hot weather, it may be heat exhaustion or heatstroke so seek medical help.

 

 Keeping your home and community safe

  • Keep mirrors, crystals, glass ornaments and other reflective items out of direct sunlight at all times.
  • Reflective objects can act as a lens and allow sunlight to bounce off them, setting alight nearby flammable objects such as curtains and soft furnishings.
  • Regularly remove combustible waste including accumulations of dust, leaves, sticks and cardboard, as these can ignite and increase the chances of fires spreading through a property much quicker.
  • Make sure you keep ignition sources away from these materials or flammable liquids and gases.
  • When it comes to cigarettes ensure that there are suitable stubbing posts or ashtrays to dispose of them – to avoid accidental fires.
  • Throwing it into a bin isn’t safe enough. Warmer days can lead to bins becoming dry and hot, and therefore more flammable.
  • Regularly check on mobile phones when charging them.
  • Mobile phones can get hot when charging, particularly in warmer weather. If left under a pillow or cushion, they can heat up quickly and be a potential fire hazard.
  • Always leave your device uncovered and away from soft furnishings whenever they’re charging.
  • Don’t overload sockets.
  • Although you might want to plug your fan in while your phone charger and computer are also plugged in, you still need to be aware that fires can start because of an overloaded plug socket.
  • Furthermore, electrical cables everywhere can create a fire hazard, so keep your cables tidy.

 

Enjoy the summer. Stay safe.