Beat the Heat: How to Stay Safe in Hot Weather
Quick answer
During a heatwave, the most at-risk groups are people aged 65 and over, children under 5, pregnant women, and anyone on regular medication. The key actions are: keep cool by closing curtains in the daytime, drink plenty of water throughout the day, and check that your medicines are stored below 25°C or in the fridge if required.
Who Is Most at Risk During a Heatwave?
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), an estimated 2,803 people aged 65 and over died due to the heat in England in 2022, the year UK temperatures exceeded 40°C for the first time on record. Heat-related deaths could triple by 2050 as climate change progresses.
The following groups are most vulnerable during hot weather:
- People aged 65 and over
- Children under 5 years old
- Pregnant women
- People with heart disease, breathing conditions, kidney problems, or dementia
- Anyone taking regular medicines, particularly diuretics, blood pressure tablets, or medicines that affect sweating
How to Keep Your Home Cool Without Air Conditioning
Most UK homes don't have air conditioning, but you can keep temperatures down with these NHS-recommended steps:
- Keep curtains and blinds closed on south- and west-facing windows during the day
- Open windows at night when the outside air is cooler
- Use electric fans when temperatures are below 35°C, above that, fans circulate hot air without cooling you
- Stay in the coolest room of the house, usually north-facing rooms on lower floors
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day, even if you don't feel thirsty
Why Hot Weather Can Affect Your Medicines
Many common medicines must be stored below 25°C, and some, such as insulin, certain eye drops, and some antibiotic liquids, require refrigeration at all times.
Heat can degrade the active ingredients in tablets, capsules, creams, and liquid medicines, making them less effective or potentially harmful. Check your medicine's leaflet for storage requirements and, if in doubt, ask your pharmacist.
Never store medicines in your car during summer: car interiors can reach 60°C or more on a hot day.
Recognising Heat Exhaustion vs Heatstroke: What to Do
Heat exhaustion and heatstroke are two different conditions, and it's important to know which is which.
Heat exhaustion signs: heavy sweating, pale and clammy skin, fast and weak pulse, nausea, muscle cramps, dizziness, headache. The person is still conscious and alert. Move them to a cool place, give water, and cool them down with a damp cloth. They should recover within 30 minutes.
Heatstroke is a medical emergency. Call 999 immediately if someone has a high temperature of 40°C or above, is confused or acting strangely, has stopped sweating despite the heat, has a fast strong pulse, or loses consciousness. While waiting for the ambulance, cool them as quickly as possible.
When to Visit Your Pharmacist, Call NHS 111, or Dial 999
Your pharmacist can advise on the best rehydration products, check whether your medicines are suitable for high temperatures, and recommend sun protection. Visit us or call NHS 111 if heat symptoms are not improving. Call 999 if anyone shows signs of heatstroke.
Yes. Most medicines should be stored below 25°C, and some require refrigeration. Heat can break down active ingredients, making medicines less effective or unsafe. Always check the patient information leaflet and ask your pharmacist if you are unsure.
Most medicines should be kept below 25°C in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Some medicines, such as insulin, certain eye drops, and liquid antibiotics, must be kept in a fridge between 2°C and 8°C. Check the label or ask your pharmacist.
Call 999 immediately. While waiting for the ambulance, move the person to a cool shaded area, loosen tight clothing, and cool them down with cold water or wet cloths on the neck, armpits, and groin. Do not give them anything to drink if they are unconscious.
Keep most medicines below 25°C, in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight, and check the patient information leaflet for anything that needs the fridge, such as insulin, some eye drops, and certain liquid antibiotics. Never leave medicines in a car on a hot day, temperatures inside can reach 60°C or more within minutes. If a medicine has been left somewhere too warm, ask your pharmacist whether it's still safe to use rather than guessing.
Yes. Keep taking your antibiotics exactly as prescribed and finish the course; hot weather does not change how they work. Three things do change. Store them below 25°C, and keep liquid antibiotics (most children's suspensions) in the fridge. Some antibiotics, doxycycline in particular, make your skin much more sensitive to sunlight, so cover up and use a high-factor sunscreen while you take them and for a few days after. And because antibiotics can cause diarrhoea, and heat makes you sweat, dehydration creeps up faster than usual, so drink more than you normally would. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless the next one is due, and never take a double dose.
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