How to stay cool during the hot weather

How to stay cool during the hot weather:

1. Limit the time you stay outside and apply sunscreen
2. Keep an eye on the colour of you and your patient’s urine (dark coloured urine can often be a sign of dehydration)
3. Stay fresh by having a shower before and after work and use a deodorant.
4. Take breaks
5. Ensure residents/patients are hydrated and keep an eye in input and output (Fluid balance chart)
6. Avoid getting dehydrated or getting heat exhaustion by drinking lots of water (keep a bottle of water nearby)
7. Wear loose lightweight and light coloured clothing (Our Severn Angels Scrub tunics are great for hot weather)
8. Lookout for your neighbours’ especially elderly people and those who lives alone.
9. Watch out for signs of heat exhaustion or heatstroke which include:

• 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 38°C or above
• being very thirsty

Things you can do to cool someone down:

If someone has heat exhaustion, follow the below steps

• 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 re-hydration 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.
• Stay with them until they’re better.

They should start to cool down and feel better within 30 minutes.

If no improvement after 30 minutes call 999 or report to the Nurse on duty.

For more details please follow the NHS guidelines here