Level 3 Heatwave Warning – 9th August

A level 3 heatwave warning has been issued by the Met Office, in place from 12 noon today (9 August) until at least Saturday (13 August).

Temperatures could reach the mid-thirties by the weekend.

Make sure you protect yourself and think of others, such as children and older people, who may be impacted.

Visit the Met Office forecast pages for more information.

Wokingham Borough Council have produced the following advice. The Public Health England have also produced a Heatwave Plan for England.

Keeping children and babies safe

Children and babies are more vulnerable to the heat as they cannot control their body temperature as easily because they do not sweat as much.

Advice for children:

Stay in shade if they are playing outdoors when possible
Wear loose, light-coloured clothing and sunhats
Wear sun cream (at least factor 15 with UVA protection)
Drink plenty of water and avoid physical activity during peak times
Make sure they know the dangers of swimming in open water

If you are using a paddling pool to provide relief from the heat, never leave children unattended and take care when getting in and out.

Place the pool in a shaded area and make sure it is empty once you have finished with it. If you have a bigger pool, make sure it is covered, preferably with a childproof, lockable cover.

Looking after babies:

Keep them hydrated as babies and infants are vulnerable to dehydration
Babies less than six months old should be kept out of direct sunlight
Older babies should be kept out of the sun as much as possible, especially during peak times (11am to 3pm)
Do not cover their buggy or pram with a blanket to shield the sun – attach a parasol or sunshade
Use sun cream with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 – many brands have products specifically for babies and young children

To help keep your baby cool at night, keep windows, blinds and curtains closed in the room where they sleep.

Put a fan in their bedroom, making sure it is out of reach. Reduce their layers and monitor the temperature of the room.

More information about looking after your baby is available on the NHS website.

Keeping well

Drink lots of water and reduce tea, coffee and especially alcohol consumption
Wear light-coloured, lightweight, cotton, loose-fitting clothing
Remember to eat properly
Avoid extreme exercise

Indoor advice

Close curtains of rooms that face the sun to keep them cool
Consider fitting thermal blinds/curtains
Dress appropriately and check the central heating is switched off
Take cool baths/showers to cool down
Open windows if it feels cooler outside, considering the safety of young children
Check your medicines are stored at the correct temperature

Outdoor advice

Apply sunscreen and wear a hat, while trying to stay in the shade
Keep out of the midday sun (11am to 3pm)
Avoid exercising during the hottest time of the day
Keep safe if swimming in water, especially open water, rivers and ponds
Never leave anyone – especially children, the elderly or animals – alone in a vehicle
Public buildings, such as libraries and places of worship, may be cooler

Be wary of fires

Never leave a lit barbecue unattended and follow the safety instruction provided with disposable barbecues.

Make sure it is well away from sheds, fences and trees and keep away from children and pets. Use only approved lighter fluids – never petrol or paraffin – and use only on cold coals.

It is a good idea to keep a bucket of water, sand or a garden hose nearby for emergencies and don’t cook if you have been drinking or taking medication.

After cooking make sure you fully extinguish the barbecue and that it is cold before disposing the contents. Don’t empty hot ashes into bins, as they can melt the plastic and start a fire.

If you are having a bonfire, let your neighbours know and only burn dry materials. Don’t burn household rubbish, rubber tyres or anything containing plastic, foam or paint as this will cause pollution and harm people’s health.

Be considerate and don’t light a bonfire if you can see a neighbour has washing out to dry.

Here are some tips if you are out and about during the heat:

Always extinguish cigarettes and other smoking materials properly
Never throw lit cigarette ends out of car windows – they can destroy whole fields of crops
Avoid open fires in the countryside and only use barbecues in safe, designated areas
Don’t leave bottles or glass lying around – sunlight shining through glass can start a fire
If you see a fire in the countryside, report it immediately by calling 999

Help for homeless people

Due to the increasing temperatures we today (Tuesday) we activated our Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) for rough sleepers, meaning that we can find them a bed for the night.

If you have seen anyone sleeping rough after the protocol comes into palce, or if you or someone you know could use this help, please call us on (0118) 974 6000 and for out of hours, please visit our Homelessness pages.

Hosepipe bans

There has not been a hosepipe ban imposed on our area at this time.

Keep an eye on the Thames Water and South East Water websites, who provide water to the area.

If a ban is put in place, these websites will be the best place to get updates directly from the companies:

Water safety advice

There have sadly been multiple deaths of young people in Berkshire who have drowned in recent weeks.

If you know any young people, pass on the following advice:

Cold water kills – jumping in can give you cold water shock
Don’t be tempted to jump into lakes, rivers or canals
If you fall in or enter follow these steps – fight the urge to thrash around, lean back and extend your arms and legs, move them around to help you float, keep floating until you can control your breathing, swim to safety or call for help

The RNLI has safety advice on floating to live.

Useful links

The following are good sources of information and advice during a heatwave: