Yellow heat weather alert – ensure your patients and staff are well hydrated

August 12, 2024

We are currently experiencing hot weather in parts of England including the West Midlands which will continue throughout the week. This is why it’s vital you ensure all your patients and staff are well hydrated.

Dehydration can set in incredibly quickly so it’s important to understand the key symptoms:

• Headaches
• Sunken eyes
• Dry mouth/lips
• Tiredness
• Cold hands
• Dark/smelly urine
• Peeing fewer than four times a day

Remember to keep a steady supply of water nearby and to try to drink 1.5 litres of fluid per day.

Other factors which increase an individual’s risk during a hot weather include:

• Chronic and severe illness, including heart conditions, diabetes, respiratory or renal insufficiency, Parkinson’s disease or severe mental illness.
• Medications that potentially affect renal function, the body’s ability to sweat, thermoregulation or electrolyte balance can make this group more vulnerable to the effects of heat
• Inability to adapt behaviour to keep cool: having Alzheimer’s, a disability, being bed bound, babies and the very young

Actions to be taken include the following:

• Minimise heat increase by drawing blinds or curtains
• Where possible switch off anything connected to the power system and likely to produce heat e.g. computers, printers, additional lighting
• Maintain hydration in patients by offering additional drinks

Colleagues should ensure that discharge planning takes into account the temperature of the accommodation and level of daily care during the heatwave period.

This period of hot weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services – please refer to the Trust’s severe weather plan.