Heat alerts issued for Cornwall
A red heat-health alert has been issued for the South West until 11:00 pm on Friday 26 June.
With high temperatures expected over the coming days, North, Mid and East Cornwall will fall into the amber weather warning for extreme heat from midnight tonight (Wednesday 24 June)
It's important to look after yourself and avoid sunburn or heatstroke, and please look out for people who might struggle to keep cool, especially older people, children, babies, and those with underlying health conditions.
Here are our top tips to beat the heat and stay well:
Try to keep out of the sun between 11am to 3pm when the UV rays are strongest.
If you have to go outside in the heat, walk in the shade, apply sunscreen (SPF 30-50) and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
Close curtains on rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler and remember it may be cooler outdoors than indoors.
Drink plenty of fluids, avoid excess alcohol, take water with you if you're travelling.
Never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children, vulnerable adults, or animals.
Avoid physical exertion during the hottest parts of the day.
If you are planning to go swimming in open water to cool down, take care and follow local safety advice.
check medicines can be stored according to the instructions on the packaging.
Early rubbish and recycling collections
Due to the extreme weather that’s expected, to keep our crews safe, we’ll be starting our collection rounds earlier all this week.
Teams will be out from 6am instead of 7am, so please ensure your rubbish, recycling, clinical and garden waste is put out before then.
How to keep your home cool
Keeping your living space cool is especially important for those who need to stay at home while it's hot outside.
We've got some tips to try to help you beat the heat indoors:
Shade or cover windows exposed to direct sunlight and keep windows that are exposed to the sun closed during the day. External shutters or shades, if you have them, are very effective, while internal blinds or curtains are less effective. Care should be taken with metal blinds and dark curtains, as these can absorb heat.
If possible and safe, open windows at night if it feels cooler outside.
Turn off non-essential lights and electrical equipment – they generate heat.
During the hottest periods find the coolest part of your home or garden/outside or local green space to sit in. If going outdoors, use cool spaces considerately.
Water safety
During warm weather, going for a swim can provide much welcomed relief.
If you are going into open water to cool-down, take care and follow local safety advice.
While you might expect the water to be warm, it could still be cold, and that could mean you get cold water shock. Low water temperature can numb limbs and render the strongest swimmer helpless in minutes. Two thirds of accidental drowning involve strong swimmers.
Water does not need to be moving very fast to sweep you off your feet and there may be strong currents even in still water.
Drinking alcohol severely affects your hazard perception, co-ordination and resistance to the cold.
Don’t assume because you can swim in a pool that you can deal with the challenges and temperatures of open water swimming.
If you're heading to the beach, choose one patrolled by RNLI lifeguards and follow the flag system.
Find out more about water safety
Supporting people sleeping rough
Due to the heat, we're activating our Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) to support people sleeping rough.
Our teams will be carrying out additional welfare checks and offering bottled water, sun protection and advice on staying safe in hot weather.
If you're concerned about someone sleeping rough, please contact StreetLink.
Barbecue and fire pit safety
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service are encouraging us to enjoy barbecues or fire pits safely during the heatwave.
Always set them outside, well away from homes, sheds, fences and dry plants.
Use only on stable, non flammable ground and never indoors.
Make sure children and pets are kept at a safe distance.
Avoid using accelerants; use only approved fuels and lighting methods.
Ashes must be cold completely before disposal and it’s handy to have a bucket of water or sand nearby.
Find out more about BBQ safety
GWR travel warning
Following the Met Office's red weather warning of extreme heat across parts of the country, they will be will be running an amended service in the areas affected.
This is for areas outside of Cornwall and Devon, but may impact you if you are travelling further afield.
Only travel if necessary on Wednesday and Thursday:
Check before you travel: Where possible, plan ahead and check journey times closer to the time of travel, particularly for the hottest part of the day.
Allow extra time: Journeys are likely to take longer than usual, so build this into your plans, especially if you have a connection to make or need to be somewhere by a specific time.
Bring water: Carry water with you, particularly if you expect to be travelling during the hottest periods or waiting on platforms.
If you feel unwell, don't board: If you are waiting for a train and feel unwell due to the heat, please speak to a member of staff, who will be able to help.
Find out more on the GWR website
Know what to do in flash flooding
Severe hot weather can lead to isolated extreme rainfall and flash flooding that is hard to predict.
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service have advice on how to prepare for a flood and what to do if you have been flooded.
If you come across flooding how you report it depends on the type of flood and where it is. Please follow the right steps so that the issue can be dealt with promptly.
Find out how on our report it pages
Help keep the emergency department for those who need it most
If you’re ill or injured, knowing where the best healthcare is can help get you on the mend sooner.
If you have visitors who have forgotten to pack their prescription medication, or you’ve run out yourself pharmacists can arrange an emergency supply. Visitors can order a prescription online or from their own GP back home, who can also help with non-urgent advice.
There is also a network of minor injuries units and urgent treatment centres for sprains, broken bones and minor burns.
Other places to support you, even if out of hours, include:
The HANDi paediatric app for common childhood illnesses
NHS 111 online or by phone for advice and mental health support
999 or your nearest emergency department for life or limb threatening emergencies