Heatwave checklist (UK): how to prepare for hot weather, from the government's Be Ready guidance

Updated on 27 October 2026How these pages are written (in French)

This page is for households in the United Kingdom. It is an independent summary of the UK government's Be Ready guidance on hot weather and heatwaves, developed by the Cabinet Office, with the UK Health Security Agency's keep cool at home checklist and the NHS page on heat exhaustion and heatstroke. The Be Ready guidance is free at beready.campaign.gov.uk.

Be Ready lists four ways people can become unwell in the heat: "overheating, dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke."

Hot weather also strains the systems a household depends on. According to Be Ready, it can place strains on water and energy networks, road and rail transport, and health and fire services, which "can result in power cuts, restriction or loss of water supplies, and disruption to transport."

Be Ready gives an example: in July 2022, temperatures in parts of England "exceeded 40℃ for the first time."

The Be Ready guidance names these groups as among the most at risk:

• Older adults.
• Babies and young children.
• Pregnant people.
• People with underlying health conditions, particularly heart and breathing problems, dementia, diabetes, kidney disease, Parkinson's disease, or mobility problems.
• People who are physically active and spend a lot of time outdoors, such as runners, cyclists and people in manual labour jobs.
• People experiencing homelessness.
• People who live alone and may be unable to care for themselves.
• People in top floor flats, or in homes with restricted or limited windows.

The UK Health Security Agency's keep cool at home checklist (England) adds detail: it names people aged 65 and over, children aged 5 and under, people taking certain medications, people who need help from others for routine activities, and people at home during the hottest part of the day.

If you know someone at higher risk, Be Ready suggests making sure they know the actions to take, and offering practical help "(e.g. helping them to stock up on water or medication)."

Be Ready suggests these steps before a period of hot weather:

• Consider changes to keep your home cool, such as external shutters or awnings, internal blinds, or plants grown outside to shade south facing windows.
• Ask for help if your home is likely to overheat: if you live in a top floor flat or a home with restricted opening of windows, contact your local council, your letting agency or Citizens Advice.
• Check your heating is turned off, and check that your fridges, freezers and fans are working properly.

The UK Health Security Agency's keep cool at home checklist (England) lists homes that can overheat, including:

• flats on the top floor, "because heat rises";
• homes with opening windows on just one side, which means less ventilation;
• homes with little shading, inside or outside;
• homes in densely built-up urban areas with little green space nearby;
• some highly insulated or energy efficient homes, which "may trap heat inside";
• homes with restricted opening of windows, for example with a safety catch.

The same checklist adds two checks: if you have a ventilation system, make sure it is switched on and in "summer mode" if it has one, and check that your medicines can be stored according to the instructions on the packaging.

Be Ready says to keep your home cool "by shading and closing windows and curtains, especially in rooms that face the sun, and opening windows when the air feels cooler (e.g., at night)."

The UK Health Security Agency's keep cool at home checklist (England) adds:

• Fans: "Use electric fans if the air temperature is below 35°C, but do not aim the fan directly at your body as this can lead to dehydration."
• Heat sources: turn off lights and electrical equipment that are not in use, and consider cooking at cooler times of the day.
• Sleep: move to a cooler part of the house, especially for sleeping, if possible.
• Windows: open them only when it is safe to do so, and try to get air flowing through the home.

If your home stays hot, Be Ready notes that it may be cooler outside in the shade or in a public building, "such as places of worship, local libraries, or supermarkets", if you can travel there safely without putting yourself at risk from the heat.

The Be Ready guidance lists these actions during a spell of hot weather:

• Drink plenty of fluids. If you go out, take a refillable bottle filled with water.
• Keep out of the sun as much as possible between 11am and 3pm, "when UV levels are highest."
• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothes. Outside, seek shade, apply suncream, and cover up, for example with sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat.
• Apply sunscreen generously and re-apply frequently, especially after swimming or towelling.
• Move physical activity, such as exercise or walking the dog, to cooler times of day like the morning or evening.

The NHS page on heat exhaustion and heatstroke also lists, word for word: "avoid drinking too much alcohol" and "avoid extreme exercise" (information from the NHS website, as at 27 October 2026).

Be Ready warns that "Small, closed spaces such as stationary cars can get dangerously hot very quickly." It asks you to make sure babies, children, older adults and pets are not left alone in stationary cars or other closed spaces.

Be Ready also says to take extra water for journeys on public transport or by car. The NHS website has a page on keeping your baby safe in the sun.

The NHS website describes the symptoms of heat exhaustion in these words:

The symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

• tiredness
• dizziness
• headache
• feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
• excessive sweating and skin becoming pale and clammy (a change in skin colour can be harder to see on brown or black skin)
• cramps in the arms, legs and stomach
• a high temperature
• being very thirsty
• feeling irritable

The symptoms of heat exhaustion are often the same in adults and children.

If someone is showing signs of heat exhaustion they need to be cooled down and given fluids.

[…]

If someone has heat exhaustion, follow these 4 steps:

• Move them to a cool place.
• Remove all unnecessary clothing like a jacket or socks.
• Give them plenty of water to drink – you can also give them an isotonic sports drink or oral rehydration powder that you mix with water, which will help replace salt lost through sweating.
• Cool their skin – spray or sponge them with cool water and fan them. Cold packs, wrapped in a cloth and put under the armpits or on the neck are good too.

Stay with them until they're better.

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

Information from the NHS website, as at 27 October 2026: Heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Be Ready summarises the line between the two conditions: "Heat exhaustion does not usually need emergency medical help if you can cool down within 30 minutes. If it turns into heatstroke, it needs to be treated as an emergency."

The NHS website says, word for word:

Call 999 now if:

You or someone else have signs of heatstroke, including:

• still being unwell after 30 minutes of resting in a cool place, being cooled and drinking fluids
• a very high temperature
• hot skin that's not sweating and might look red (this can be harder to see on brown or black skin)
• a fast heartbeat
• fast breathing or shortness of breath
• confusion and lack of coordination
• a seizure or fit
• loss of consciousness

Do not drive yourself to A&E.

The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.

Wrap the person in a cool, wet sheet, or fan them or sponge them down with cold water while you wait for help to arrive.

If they lose consciousness while you're waiting for help, put them in the recovery position and tell the ambulance service. Check their breathing and pulse and carry out CPR if they show no sign of life.

Information from the NHS website, as at 27 October 2026: Heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

The NHS website also says, word for word: "Get help from NHS 111 now if: you or someone else have symptoms of heat exhaustion that you're struggling to treat or you need advice about" and "You can call 111 or get help from 111 online." (information from the NHS website, as at 27 October 2026; online at 111.nhs.uk).

Be Ready suggests that, if hot weather is forecast, you prepare your vehicle by checking your tyres, fluid levels, battery and air conditioning, and pack water bottles in the car in case of a breakdown or long periods stuck in traffic.

Allow extra time for journeys: according to Be Ready, road surfaces can be damaged by heat, and speed restrictions on rail lines can cause delays or cancellations. Check advice from transport operators ahead of time, and follow "Do Not Travel" warnings.

If you go swimming, in a pool or open water, Be Ready points to the Royal Life Saving Society's summer water safety advice.

Be Ready warns that hot weather can lead to power cuts and to restriction or loss of water supplies. The government's Be Ready checklist asks for bottled water for 3 days, "3 litres per person per day for drinking", and a charged power bank. For the full list, see our emergency kit checklist.

The Be Ready checklist also asks you to request repeat prescriptions in good time: "It's important to request prescriptions up to 5 working days before you need your medicine."

• 999: signs of heatstroke, or anyone in immediate danger.
• 111: NHS 111, for heat exhaustion you are struggling to treat or for advice.

• UK Government (Cabinet Office), Hot weather and heatwaves: who is most at risk, preparing your home and vehicle, actions during hot weather (accessed 27 October 2026)
• UK Government (Cabinet Office), Be ready for emergencies: Be Ready checklist, water, power bank, repeat prescriptions (accessed 27 October 2026)
• UK Health Security Agency, Beat the heat: keep cool at home checklist, applies to England, updated 21 July 2026 (accessed 27 October 2026)
• NHS, Heat exhaustion and heatstroke: symptoms, cooling someone down, when to call 111 or 999, page last reviewed 28 May 2026 (accessed 27 October 2026)

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Information from the NHS website is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Quoted NHS passages are reproduced word for word and marked as such. This is an independent website, not affiliated with or endorsed by the UK Government or the NHS.