This summer has been uncommonly warm, with June’s scorching temperatures making it the hottest month in 41 years. Such sweltering heat threatens the elderly, babies and those with underlying health conditions. Public Health England advises that excessive exposure to high temperatures can kill, and that heat-related deaths start to occur when temperatures rise above 25 degrees.
Led by June’s heatwave, the warmer weather this year has already taken 510 more lives than average in England and Wales. For homeowners, this news can be especially troubling, as homes rapidly warm up during the summer months. Here’s how to keep your home cool and your family out of dangerous heat this summer:
- Keep windows shut and curtains drawn during the hottest part of the day. Only open windows and curtains at night when it’s cooler.
- Switch off heat-generating electronics when not in use, such as your computer or television.
- Make the air in your home feel cooler by placing a bowl of icy water in front of fans.
- Avoid taking long showers, and cut down on washing machine and dishwasher use. The steam from showers and these machines generates house-warming humidity.
- Insulate your home, starting in the attic. While insulation is generally thought of as heat trapper, it can also keep the heat out in the warmer months.
- If your home will not cool down, hire an air-conditioning unit.