Britain is currently basking in another heatwave (stock image) (Image: Getty)
Summer is in full force, with 40-degree temperatures forecast in some areas of the UK this week. The Met Office has issued a rare red warning for hot weather for parts of southern England and the South West, saying these areas are now “increasingly likely to see a two-to-three-day period where maximum temperatures in the shade exceed 37 Celsius, perhaps rising to 38 to 40 Celsius in some places”.
As a result, many of us will be thinking about ways to keep cool. But one A&E doctor with 588,000 followers on TikTok has warned some of the most obvious solutions may actually put you at greater risk of heatstroke. Dr Ahmed, who describes himself as the “healthcare Gordon Ramsay”, explained more on the social media platform.
Taking your shirt off
One of the quickest and most obvious ways to cool down is to strip off. But Dr Ahmed warned this could actually put you at greater risk.
He said: “What should you do if you start having heatstroke out in the sun? Should you take off your shirt to cool down?
“No! Doing that will expose you to direct sunlight, direct radiation, you will absorb more heat. Make sure to take off all layers except for a simple cotton layer to protect you from the sun.”
According to government advice, lightweight, loose-fitting and light-coloured clothes such as long-sleeved shirts, trousers, or long skirts are best to protect your skin from the sun. Wide-brimmed hats should also be worn to protect your face, eyes, head, ears, and neck.
Jumping into cold water
Another tempting way to cool down quickly is to pop your swimming costume on and jump into the sea or another body of water. But Dr Ahmed warned this can be dangerous too.
“Jumping into a body of water with a sudden temperature drop will actually make your muscles seize up and you will drown, and that will make it my problem,” he said. According to the RNLI, jumping into water colder than 15 degrees can cause the body to enter cold water shock.
The organisation added the sea around the UK and Ireland is usually around 12 degrees, while rivers are colder, even in the summer. Cold water shock can increase the risk of heart attack, while also causing you to gasp for breath, which can result in you inhaling water into your lungs.
Dr Ahmed added the best alternative is to spray yourself with a cool mist, or put ice packs or wet towels under your armpits or on your back or thighs, saying this will “cool yourself down very nicely”. However, he added, this is not without risks too.
“You don’t want your temperature to drop too quickly because, like I said, in heatstroke your body’s normal temperature regulation systems are off,” he said. “You can go into hypothermia without knowing it. If you’re not yet in heatstroke, still be careful, because [reducing your body temperature] too quickly can make you shiver, and shivering can cause more heat increase inside your body.”
Get help
Dr Ahmed’s third tip is to make sure you seek help when you need it. “This is where number three comes in,” he said.
“Most important: seek help. Somebody to watch over you, somebody to contact emergency services while you cool down to make sure you are safe. Do that and don’t become my problem in A&E.”
The 50 areas of the UK facing 40 degree heat
East Midlands
East of England
- Bedford
- Cambridgeshire
- Central Bedfordshire
- Essex
- Hertfordshire
- Luton
- Thurrock
London & South East England
- Bracknell Forest
- Buckinghamshire
- East Sussex
- Greater London
- Hampshire
- Kent
- Milton Keynes
- Oxfordshire
- Reading
- Slough
- Surrey
- West Berkshire
- West Sussex
- Windsor and Maidenhead
- Wokingham
South West England
- Bath and North East Somerset
- Bristol
- Dorset
- Gloucestershire
- North Somerset
- Somerset
- South Gloucestershire
- Swindon
- Wiltshire
Wales
- Blaenau Gwent
- Bridgend
- Caerphilly
- Cardiff
- Carmarthenshire
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Monmouthshire
- Neath Port Talbot
- Newport
- Powys
- Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Swansea
- Torfaen
- Vale of Glamorgan
West Midlands
- Herefordshire
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands Conurbation
- Worcestershire
