Australians are giving British people advice on how to deal with extreme heat as the UK is set to record its hottest day in history.
An Irish man living in . lives London to Reddit Australia to ask Aussies if they had any “tips not to melt.”
The teacher explained that the school they work at does not have air conditioning – like most buildings in the UK.
Temperatures in London will reach 39C/102F in the coming days. You fine people are more used to it than I am, does anyone have any tips for not melting?’ He wrote.
“Before you call me a Pom, I’m Irish. If you’re going to take the p***, at least be accurate! Serious tips and ridicule were encouraged in equal measure.’
Australians are giving British people advice on how to deal with extreme heat as the UK is set to record its hottest day in history. Pictured: Margate beach in Kent was packed on Sunday as thousands of people headed ashore to soak up the glorious sunshine before temperatures skyrocket on Monday and Tuesday
“Edit: It’s worth adding that I’m a teacher and will be working in a building with no air conditioning,” he added.
Britain could be hotter than Delhi and the Sahara desert on Monday, with experts predicting the mercury could reach 41°C – double the UK’s summer average.
The UK’s Met Office has issued the first-ever red heat warning, urging motorists to be wary of melting and warping tires on the street.
Many Aussies advised making sure hats, sunscreen and water bottles are a must for all children and adults, while others advised freezing towels to keep cool on the street.
“I’m also a teacher and although we have air conditioning, we have a few things that we use regularly on those hot days to keep the kids cool,” one Aussie wrote.
“First, hats, sunscreen, and water bottles are required, not optional (no hat, no game). Let children wet their hats and refill drinking bottles as often as necessary.
Many Australians advised making sure hats, sunscreen and water bottles are a requirement for all children and adults, while others advised freezing towels to keep cool on the streets
‘Turn off the lights – this is mostly psychological, but for some reason it seems to help! I should add that we don’t have blinds on our windows – if you do you have to close them to keep the heat out!
“I bought a few plastic spray bottles from a $2 store (the kind you would spray your hair or a potted plant with) and walked around misting the kids in class — they love it!
‘Fans all day long. If you don’t have a ceiling fan, it might be worth jumping for a standing fan.
‘Make the most of your morning sessions and gradually slow down during the day. By mid-afternoon, when it’s very hot and the kids are ready, you should just do mindful activities, such as reading.
‘I also let the kids eat whenever they want on such days – keeps the energy up and many bring frozen drinks etc from home.
People enjoy the warm weather at Hathersage’s outdoor swimming pool in Hope Valley, in the Peak District, Derbyshire, as they try to keep cool today
The Met Office warns that temperatures in some parts of the UK could hit 40C, with large parts of England set to experience its hottest day on record on Tuesday.
“Buy a few bags of cheap icy poles and stick them in the freezer (both our staff freezer and our home freezer are full in the summer!).
Finally, take the snake out while playing and give them a quick all-over spray.
“Water wastage is a big deal here, but on those insanely hot days, it can help cool everyone down and bring a little relief if you even have a quick spray. Plus- so much fun!
‘Alternatively, sometimes we just fill a bucket and give them sponges and they throw them at each other etc.
“Put yourself a wet cloth in the freezer and enjoy that bad boy at recess.”
Another wrote: ‘The worst part is that your structures aren’t great with the heat because they are designed to keep the heat in.
People sunbathe in London’s West Reservoir today ahead of what is expected to be two of the hottest days on record
My advice is not to spend too much time indoors, go outside (in a shady area with a frozen 1.5 liter bottle of ice and cool wet towels) and stay hydrated.
“If you’re inside, make sure there are some fans and a thermometer in them.
“Keep the house with the windows closed, the blinds closed and the electricity off. Even though it’s only a 39C day, it can rise to 45C inside your home.
“With teaching (I’m also a teacher), keep the windows open, fans running and stay hydrated.
‘Ice cubes or even chewy cheese are also fine, keep your core temperature low.’
Another commented: ‘Have been through some high heatwaves of the 1930s in London, and it’s total shit, sorry mate. No air conditioning, no airflow, heat radiating from every surface. You become unhappy.
“The best thing to do is get some pedestal fans with some bags of peas, cooling mats and drink as much as you can (water or alcohol to knock you out).
“One of the worst cities to live in during high temperatures, sorry,” he added.
A woman holds a fan as she tries to stay cool while traveling on the London Underground today. Transport for London bosses urge people not to travel on Mondays and Tuesdays if possible
Others advised “really think about water intake” and “do as much as you can in the evening” and avoid the hottest part of the day.
“Freezing damp towels is the best tip — even putting a few around you on a bed is usually enough to cool you down enough to fall asleep on a hot night,” said one.
“Block as much sun as possible from entering buildings and open all windows at night to let the cool air in,” one said.
BRIGHTON: People are jumping into the sea after the Met Office issued its first ‘red’ warning of exceptional heat on Friday and forecast record highs of 40 degrees Celsius next week
“When you’re outside, avoid hard surfaces as much as possible, because hard surfaces create hot spots. Stay out of the sun as much as possible, cover up, wear sunglasses and bring an umbrella to keep the sun off you. Sunburn is terrible in hot weather,” said another.
The UK’s Met Office has also explained that heat in the UK feels hotter than in many other countries due to high humidity, meaning it’s harder for the human body to cool down because sweat doesn’t evaporate as quickly.
British buildings are also ‘designed to keep the heat in compared to warmer countries’, meaning temperatures often don’t drop below 20C at night – meaning Brits don’t have time to cool down at night.