Beat the heat - coping with heat

Keep residents in residential and care settings safe and well

During previous heatwaves, people in residential and care settings have been at particularly high risk of illness and death. It is important that you know what actions to take to keep residents safe from high temperatures.

Residents at highest risk

Some medications can also place people more at risk from heat.

You should:

  • identify those at highest risk
  • know your care home response plan
  • monitor temperatures in all rooms 

Keep residents cool

Keeping cool is vital in hot weather. There are actions you can take to help residents remain well. Signs of heat-related illness include nausea, drowsiness and headache.

You should:

  • recognise heat-related illness
  • monitor hydration and fluid intake

Keep the building cool

There are simple actions to take to reduce overheating in care homes:

  • open windows at night to allow for cooling
  • use blinds to reduce heat gain and create cross-ventilation if possible
  • turn heating systems off

 Take action

Treatments for heat-related illnesses are always the same. Cool the person down and get help if they are unresponsive:

  • move to somewhere cooler if safe to do so
  • cool showers, wet skin, fluids
  • get help or call 999 in an emergency