As we enter the summer months, it is crucial to understand and prepare for the challenges that heatwaves may pose to our communities.
This page provides valuable insights, resources, and guidance to help you navigate the risks associated with extreme heat. By staying informed and taking proactive measures, we can collectively mitigate the impacts of heatwaves, particularly on those who are often disproportionately impacted by emergencies such as adverse weather events.
Explore the information provided here to enhance your preparedness and response to potential heatwaves in 2024.
Heatwave Resources
Government Guidance
Adverse Weather and Health Plan
UKHSA: Combining the previous Heatwave Plan and Cold Weather Plan for England, the plan brings together and improves existing guidance on weather and health.
Heat-Health Alert action card (Summary)
UKHSA: Guidance summarising the suggested actions that the VCS should consider to prepare for and respond to each alert level.
Beat the heat (Easy Read)
UKHSA: Guidance providing advice on how to stay safe during hot weather.
WeatherReady campaign
Met Office: Thinking ahead and preparing for the weather that the summer may bring.
Resources from the VCS
Feeling the heat
BRC: British Red Cross 2021 report looking at heatwaves in the UK. Includes results from a survey of 2,000 UK adults, shining a spotlight on people’s understanding of extreme heat in the UK.
Heatwave checklist
BRC: Checklist on what to do before and during a heatwave to stay safe.
Heat-Health Alert action card for the VCS
UKHSA: Guidance summarising the suggested actions that the voluntary and community sector should consider to prepare for and respond to each alert level.
Adverse Weather and Health Plan (Easy Read)
UKHSA: Combining the previous Heatwave Plan and Cold Weather Plan for England, the plan brings together and improves existing guidance on weather and health.
Beat the heat (BSL)
UKHSA: Guidance and advice on how to stay safe during hot weather in British Sign Language.
Summer #WeatherHacks
Met Office: A series of simple DIY #WeatherHacks from partners that can help you prepare for the summer.
10 things you should do now to prepare for summer
Met Office: 10 simple steps to take to stay safe and healthy this summer, from preparing your home, to taking care of yourself, family and neighbours.
Public perceptions of heatwaves in the UK
BRC: A policy briefing looking at the way people in the UK perceive risks from heatwaves.
Advice on heatwaves
BRC: Learn about heatwaves in the UK, how to cope with extended periods of hot weather as well as tips for first aid and how to keep cool.
Heatwave translations
BRC: Resources including the Heatwave Checklist translated into 8 different languages.
Heatwave: How to cope in hot weather
NHS: Guidance on heatwaves, looking at who is at risk and tips for coping in hot weather.
How extreme weather is impacting communities
VCSEP: What are the potential emergencies linked to climate change and how could they impact us?
Secondary impacts of a heatwave
VCSEP: What are the indirect or secondary impacts of heatwaves?
Homeless and Rough Sleeping Communities
Supporting individuals during hot weather
Homeless Link: Tips for keeping cool in the heat and recommendations for homelessness services.
Supporting vulnerable people before and during hot weather: People homeless and sleeping rough
UKHSA: Guidance for those with responsibilities for people currently sleeping rough.
Looking after yourself in a heatwave
Groundswell: A health guide for people who experience homelessness and those supporting them, helping you to stay healthy and safe during hot weather.
Hot weather SWEP
Homeless Link: Case studies of local responses to the heatwave in 2022.
Wildfire Awareness
Wildfires: How to prevent fires and stay safe
BRC: Wildfires have become more frequent, widespread, and intense in the UK. Here's what to do in hot, dry weather when there's an increased risk of grassfires and wildfires.
Wildfire advice for people living in rural areas
DSFire: Advice from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service for people in rural areas or living on farms on how to prepare for a wildfire and keep your home safe.
Wildfires and grassfires: What are they and why are they happening now?
BRC: A guide on what wildfires are, how they start and what you can do before, during and after one.
Wildfire safety advice
DSFire: Advice on what to do if you see a wildfire, how to prevent it happening and what to do if you're concerned about overgrown grass.
Flooding
Prepare for flooding
GOV: Plan how you’ll respond to a flood using templates to make a personal, community or group flood plan.
Flooding and health: Advice for the public
GOV: Advice on how to keep you and your family safe while cleaning up your home affected by flooding.
Flooding UK: How to prepare for floods
BRC: Advice for before, during and after a flood.
Knowledge Hub resources
The Flood Hub: A wide range of flood-related resources. The toolkits are handy for an overview of different flood topics.
Warnings and Alerts
Weather-Health Alerting system (Sign Up)
Met Office/UKHSA: Register to receive both the Heat-Health Alerts and Cold-Health Alerts.
Sign up for flood warnings
GOV: Sign up to get flood warnings about flooding from rivers, the sea or groundwater, depending on your area.
Weather-Health Alerting system (Easy Read Guide)
Met Office/UKHSA: Easy read guide for the Weather-Health Alert system.
Weather-Health Alerting system (User Guide)
Met Office/UKHSA: User guide for the Weather-Health Alert system.
Air pollution forecast
DEFRA: Heatwaves and hot weather can lead to higher levels of air pollution. Check your air pollution levels.