To be worried about going in the office in this heat already?

[Chocolateapot]

I work in an NHS building on the second floor with no aircon. There are windows but these only open a fraction and don't let much air in. When it is hot it gets so unbearable I end up feeling genuinely unwell with a headache. A few years ago apparently someone fainted the office got so hot. AIBU for already worrying about next week in this heatwave?

I haven’t used one, but a colleague swears by her neck fan. It’s not plugged in so you should be able to use it.

Guessing you didn't have a job on 1995 or 1976?

Oh dear!
Youre in the UK!
I wouldn’t get too excited , we don’t get hot temperatures here and as for a heatwave 🤣🤣 25/30c is nothing

I was quite looking forward to half term with the heat until I realised my husband's welding in it! Yanbu it's lovely when you can enjoy it, not so much working in it.

I’m with you OP, I’m not very heat tolerant. I much prefer winter over summer. Any temp above 22C I struggle, mainly because it can be 22c outside which is ok but then some buildings then reach 27c.

Cotton / limited clothes, fans, lots of water / ice. I got some cooling cloths which are quite nice

I was 2 in 1995 so no 😅

Next week it’s going to be 17-20c and rain

Sorry OP but people have worked in heat for decades. No, it isn’t nice.

And yes, various organisations have said that there should be a maximum heat allowed at work. But that has not been discussed and agreed yet. It may well come into play. It is not here yet.

Fretting about the heat and headaches will not make it arrive any faster.

Imagine though working in a hot kitchen though. There will be plenty of places that will be hotter than your ward so spare a thought for these people. And your patients of course.

If you have access to a freezer at work, take two gel packs (the biggish type you can use for injuries and can be heated or frozen). Sit with one between your thighs. Cools your whole body because its on some big vein or artery (I forget which) Its like internal air con.

First year in this office?

Why mention the NHS when you work in an office??

Cooling cloth, fan and iced water. Job done.

This
What did people do years ago?
I have worked in the NHS for years, sometimes in stifling environments.
Lots of water and fans where possible.
Crack on!

Offices can be terrible. Our windows do not open at all and fans make it hard to hear what customers are saying and just move hot air around it seems. Year before last it was 33 degrees in mine and I felt so ill. It felt like getting off a plane in Africa just walking through the doors

We’re not allowed to take our own fans into the office, as they haven’t been PAT tested. Also not allowed to open windows as it’s a safety hazard (apparently!)

Ask for a fan and make sure you drink plenty of water and you’ll be fine!

A neck fan and a damp towel around your neck - best thing ever for the heat!

Doesn't the towel block the vents on the neck fan?

Loose lightweight woven cotton or linen dress, or skirt & top. Cotton undies. Sandals. Plenty of cold water to drink. Fruit/ salad for lunch

No jersey fabrics. No nylon/viscose/polyester.

Avoid sugar, caffeine, high-starch foods, hot drinks.

You'll be fine.

Buy a small USB rechargeable fan and use it on your desk pointed at your face or on the floor pointed at your legs. Recharge it at home. I've got one and can give you an amazon link if you like.

Of course we don’t. You can’t close a whole hospital because it’s hot. Sometimes work that doesn’t have to happen on that specific day might be postponed if it’s unsafe, but that clearly isn’t the case for a lot of what happens in medicine. Fully expecting it to be in the high-30s on labour ward on mon….it’ll be sweaty and gross but would still rather do that than work in a kitchen.

I work as a chef in a very busy kitchen and have learned a few tips to fight the heat. Most have probs been mentioned already.
Drink a lot more than usual, little an often, the colder the better.
Move around! I know this sounds counter productive but if you are busy and moving it's much better than sitting around.
Eat cold foods instead of a hot lunch. Run your wrists under cold water frequently. A wet j cloth or microfiber cloth round the neck also really helps.

I'm always roasting so don't like going into my glass walled office when it's warm or hot weather.

I wear loose fitting breathable fabrics, drink loads of water, don't wear make up so I can cool my face with cold water, have my hair up and have a USB fan that I can plug into my laptop. Alternatively, make friends with someone in facilities and sure they'll PAT your fan for you. It takes seconds. I have my own tester but not enough outlets at my desk.

I had the same experience as a teacher when I was seven months pregnant twenty years ago - teaching classes of 30 teenagers in July on the third floor of a 1960s school building in which the windows didn't open at all - not even a cm. No money for fans.

Finally when a teenged girl fainted in my class from the heat and we had to call an ambulance because she took a while to regain consciousness, a seasoned teacher nearing retirement age took matters into her own hands and bought fans from the book budget, on the basis that it was easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, (though I don't think she was asking for forgiveness either, more standing her ground). She had a stand off with senior management which I wasn't privy to, but she won. Go Mrs N! She'd be nearly 80 now, I hope she's thriving...

You could complete a incident report or Datix. You should contact your manager regarding this issue.