During the hot weather, homes in the UK can quickly trap heat and become uncomfortable.

Here are a few things you can do to keep your home cool and to stay safe in the summer whilst enjoying the sun with your family and friends ☀️

Heatwave safety 🌡️

Follow the Met Office for regular weather safety alerts and you can also find more information on how to cope in the hot weather on the NHS website and what signs to look out for on heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

  • Avoid the sun when it's peak heat
  • Limit physical activity 
  • Wear loose and light clothing
  • Stay hydrated
  • Wear sunscreen and a hat outdoors
  • Keep curtains and blinds closed

For any health concerns, call NHS 111.

In a medical emergency, call NHS 999.

How to keep your home cool 🧊

✅ Keep your blinds/curtains closed during the day

✅ Use a fan to help circulate air

✅ Turn off your electronics when they're not in use

✅ Use lids for your pans when cooking 

✅ Switch your duvet to a summer light one

The hotter the weather, the easier it is for a fire to start and take hold. 

Here's our top safety tips:

  • Keep your barbecue on a flat surface and well away from your home, shed, fences, trees and garden waste
  • Keep children and pets away from the cooking area
  • Follow the safety instructions on disposable barbecues
  • Have a bucket of water or sand nearby for emergencies
  • Make sure the barbecue is cool before moving it
  • Never pour petrol, meths or other accelerants on to a barbecue
  • Don't leave a barbecue unattended whilst it’s lit
  • Never empty hot ashes/coals into bins
  • Never use a barbecue indoors
  • Don't light bonfires in your garden

Visit our fire safety page for more information.

There’s nothing more refreshing than going for a dip on a hot summers day, but pools can be dangerous especially if you have children. 

Here's our top safety tips:

  • Never leave children unattended in a paddling pool
  • Check the temperature of the water regularly
  • Be sure to kneel rather than stand in a pool
  • Keep an eye out for bees or wasps floating in the pool
  • Empty the pool when it’s not in use
  • Cover garden ponds to avoid accidental drowning

You can find out more about keeping children safe in the garden on the Child Accident Prevention Trust’s website.

Did you know that wheelie bins can catch fire and be extremely dangerous. The burning of plastic releases toxic chemicals which can be harmful.

Here's our top safety tips:

  • Only put your bin out for collection early in the morning on the day
  • Move your bin from the kerbside as soon as possible after collection
  • Don’t overfill your bin - make sure the lid can close
  • Never put cigarette butts in wheelie bins

 

BBQs and bonfires

The hotter the weather, the easier it is for a fire to start and take hold. 

Here's our top safety tips:

  • Keep your barbecue on a flat surface and well away from your home, shed, fences, trees and garden waste
  • Keep children and pets away from the cooking area
  • Follow the safety instructions on disposable barbecues
  • Have a bucket of water or sand nearby for emergencies
  • Make sure the barbecue is cool before moving it
  • Never pour petrol, meths or other accelerants on to a barbecue
  • Don't leave a barbecue unattended whilst it’s lit
  • Never empty hot ashes/coals into bins
  • Never use a barbecue indoors
  • Don't light bonfires in your garden

Visit our fire safety page for more information.

Paddling pools and ponds

There’s nothing more refreshing than going for a dip on a hot summers day, but pools can be dangerous especially if you have children. 

Here's our top safety tips:

  • Never leave children unattended in a paddling pool
  • Check the temperature of the water regularly
  • Be sure to kneel rather than stand in a pool
  • Keep an eye out for bees or wasps floating in the pool
  • Empty the pool when it’s not in use
  • Cover garden ponds to avoid accidental drowning

You can find out more about keeping children safe in the garden on the Child Accident Prevention Trust’s website.

Wheelie bins

Did you know that wheelie bins can catch fire and be extremely dangerous. The burning of plastic releases toxic chemicals which can be harmful.

Here's our top safety tips:

  • Only put your bin out for collection early in the morning on the day
  • Move your bin from the kerbside as soon as possible after collection
  • Don’t overfill your bin - make sure the lid can close
  • Never put cigarette butts in wheelie bins

 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Should I open my windows during a heatwave?

You can open your windows, but during the hottest parts of the day, it helps to keep the windows closed to keep warm air out and open them when the temperature drops.

Are fans expensive to run?

No, fans are one of the most energy-efficient ways to stay cool, especially in the summer.

You can calculate the cost of running your fan with support from Currys.

Is it safe to leave windows open at night?

Unfortunately not due to potential security risks. Your home becomes open and accessible for burglaries and it could affect your home insurance policies which require your home to be securely locked.

What are the health risks during a heatwave?

The main health risks from a heatwave are:

  • dehydration from not drinking enough water
  • heat exhaustion and heatstroke
  • overheating

Call 999 if your or someone you know have signs of heatstroke.

Visit the NHS website for more safety information.