Are you doing anything specific to prepare for the heat next week?

[QuirkyLirky]

I was chatting to friends and a few were prepping for this. Ideas they came up with:
Checking the car so less chance of breaking down
Several bottles of water in the car and snacks
Reflective blanket for windscreen when parked at work
Buying extra water in case supply temporarily shut off
Filling the baths with water for repeated quick dips
Opening the loft hatch
Putting parasol in front of patio doors to give more shade to a room
Planning 'no-cook' meals for a few days
Ice blocks to put in front of fans
Frozen water bottles to take to school

All I could add was that I had made sure my ice cube trays were full in the freezer and I had a stock of ice pops frozen and some lollies to pop round to an older neighbour with as a good excuse to check on her.

I have good system for which windows and curtains to open and close throughout the day when I am at home but am working full days so will be out 7.00am - 6.30pm, so not really much use as they will all be closed).

I am trying to get my house as cold as possible now as it really holds on to heat or cool once its got it, so we can enter the heatwave without stored heat in the house and hopefully it will take longer to turn into an oven.

Is anyone else making specific plans to ease the days next week?

No. Probably will wear long skirts and no knickers to work. It's only two days.

I'm not going to drive anywhere. I've broken down today and it's taken the RAC 6.5 hours to get here. Due to all patrols being diverted to overheated cars on the motorway. TBF my car is usually reliable but it looks like it may have a faulty battery.

Freezer full of ice lollies.

Lots of bottled water, some frozen in freezer.

Cold cuts, salad and hummus to eat. Hard boiled eggs, yogurt and fruit.
Fully charged battery packs and solar lamps, in case of power cuts.
Books and activities, in case of power cuts.

We’ve already got fans but bought a portable ac until last week for our south facing bedroom. Our littlest still sleeps in with us. The older one (6) may have to come in on a blow up mattress if his room is unbearable, although his is always cooler.

Also got some cooling towels to use if uncomfortable. Our cars ac doesn’t work but I’ll drive for the school run in PM equipped with the cooling towels, lollies and ice blocks! Don’t want to walk them for half an hour if don’t need to.

I won't be doing anything differently. Some of this thread is pretty bonkers. I'm in Spain and it's 43 and people are just living their lives.

No. I always put water in the garden for wildlife anyway.

They aren't just living their lives with no adaptations. One of the reason that gas demands have hit a record high in Spain because people are using more electricity than ever to compensate for the heat with air con.

Have bought 2 large electric tower fans / several cooling mats (going to put them on the bed later) / hand held rechargeable fan / several old fashioned paper fans / a few cans of Magic Cool.
The whole lot was delivered earlier today, to much excitement!

Now going to try the tip that many others on here have suggested, of standing a large bottle of frozen water in front of the tower fan.

Just put our car windscreen visor thing (the silver foil screen) in our bedroom window- it works great! The room is nice and cool now, with the curtains closed behind it too.

Right, but they're not checking their cars in case they break down and die of heat exhaustion either.

😁 I mean, it's novel weather. People feel motivated to do the right thing. The forecasted temp here, in my town, for Tuesday is 7c more than the highest on record. I'm not checking my car but you do start to think about what it means and what vulnerabilities there are <off to check my car>.

Hoodie on steering wheel in case it gets that hot, though I often had to drive with one hand on the bottom of the wheel in Australia as the rest was too hot.

So far I’ve filled up the bird feeders as the ground around here is solid do they can’t hunt for worms.
filled up water bowls, bird bath, little paddling pool for wildlife and my dog.
Windows/curtains etc left shut when we go to work (dd will be in to keep an eye on my dog)
plenty of fluids including a flask of tea for work.
Silver sun shade for the car as there isn’t any shade where we park.
Hopefully meals like salads etc as I won’t be up to cooking a hot meal after work

lastly praying for a vehicle that has working aircon at work!

I own a cafe, we're debating whether to even bother turning the fryers on to try and keep the kitchen a bit cooler. I've got fans, will be wearing the least possible amount of clothing acceptable, and drinking a lot of water! Going in early to bake before it gets too hot so can keep the oven off. 'Only' due to be 32 in my area but we'll manage- ac in the seating area just not the kitchen!

People in Spain probably already know not to keep a chapstick in the car. I've been out and removed my charging block, lipstick/lip salve, and some biros!

I've cracked the sunroof, so the car won't be too unbearable.

Done all the other things people have mentioned, where they apply.

Food and water out for the birds, and pebbles in them to be sure nothing drowns in it!

I think people are forgetting the impact of hot nights, as well. We'll cool the house tonight, then tomorrow it will get up to 35+ and stay there for 48+ hours. We'll struggle with that.

My sons (now adult) used to lose at least a couple of days a year to heat exhaustion from school. They'd come home after a hot day and be ill for a couple of days- migraine, vomiting etc.

By the way, a cold wet cloth draped around your neck will cool you down really effectively. That keep us safe, usually.

We’re in the red zone here, but these are my usual summer preparations an a redhead:

Cooling towels.

Ice and Tip Tops in the spare freezer.

Fine mist water spray bottles to use along with personal fans (this really is the best!).

We will close the blinds on whichever side the sun is, and open the opposite windows and doors.

The deep paddling pool will be filled to the brim under a gazebo.

We are already sleeping without the duvet.

Extra sunscreen (a cooling spray one).

Hats with UV50 protection (though hats make me hotter so I only use when I really need to).

Sleeping with a cold wet towel on my body & legs (this is really good).

I am dreading it, but hope that my precautions will help.

I wish I loved the heat, but I feel clammy, smelly, dizzy and short tempered.

Cooling towels, I bought some before the price went up and gave to my colleagues. I have bought loose tops for next week and a cooling blanket for hopefully better sleep. Just bought sweat bands to hopefully help if I get too hot. I also have ice poles in the freezer at school for my class on both days.
My aim is just to survive!

No I am doing absolutely nothing different. I often holiday in Spain, where high 30's are normal, people just go about their business as normal, working, shopping, eating out etc. Even see builders working away when its over 40 in the sun.

I've bought lick-e-lix for the cats and put them in the freezer. Don't know what they are going to think of them as I haven't tried it before. They are pretty smart with hot weather (smarter than some people!) and know how to find the cool spots.

I’ve got a 5l bottle of water in the freezer. When it gets hot I’ll put it in front of the fan, instant aircon.

Being very smug that we live in a coastal part of the NW and live in a thick walled Victorian house.

I’ve spent a fair amount of time in Spain and have had 40 degree weather several times. People do do things differently, they keep shutters and blinds closed during the day and open up in the evening and many of the other things people are suggesting here as standard. The difference is that we don’t do a lot of those things as routine because whether isn’t routinely that hot. Also their houses are designed to cope with the weather. Ours mainly aren’t and then people do daft things. I see my neighbours with all their windows facing the sun open in top floor flats, they will be baking at night. Our infrastructure isn’t designed for high temperatures but it’s about time we started thinking about that seriously as it isn’t going to get better.

I was taking "end user" more literally and assuming palliative care nurse or funeral director.

Thank you to everyone who has posted saying they are leaving out water for wildlife - it’s a lifesaver

Ordered a second fan so both the kids bedrooms and ours can be cooled. Will keep blinds and curtains closed and put dark bedsheets sheets on the inside of windows with no blinds…it’s baking in those rooms otherwise. Paddling pool set up in garden. Must pick up some more lollies tomorrow. Good idea about non cook meals. Open windows at night.