Planning a holiday in the sun? Learn how to stay safe in extreme heat.
We've seen a recent increase in reports of heat related deaths amongst tourists in Greece, Turkey, Spain and Cyprus - and that was just in June. Given the last three summers have been the hottest on record, the temperatures are only expected to go up in more traditional UK holiday destinations.
The Safer Tourism Foundation wants to get the message out to as many people as possible - heat can be dangerous, and it's important to know how to stay safe!
Many UK travellers actively seek out the heat for their holidays - 63% say the weather is a key priority when choosing a destination. But it's easy to get carried away with dreams of relaxing by the beach, or enjoying a ramble across the hills in a new destination and forget how treacherous the heat can be when we aren't used to it or don't take the right preventative measures.
Safer Tourism has dedicated guidance on staying safe in the sun and heat, and our CEO Kathy Atkinson shares the below comment:
Our CEO Kathy Atkinson, says: "Last summer’s wildfires and June’s extreme heatwave in Greece are indications that travellers will need to think differently about holidays in popular Mediterranean destinations during the hottest months of the year. Experts tell us that climate change is likely to make extreme weather events more likely and for UK travellers who may be less used to managing very hot temperatures, it’s worth bearing in mind some simple steps to take to avoid life threatening heat exhaustion, heatstroke or sunstroke.
The most obvious thing is to take a look at how local people manage the heat: staying indoors or in the shade during the middle part of the day, and not doing anything too strenuous during extreme heat. For those of us coming from cooler climes it’s also essential to cover up exposed skin, wear a hat and sunscreen, and keep hydrated during really hot weather. Knowing the symptoms of severe heat exhaustion or heat stroke is helpful, so you know how to mitigate the effects on the body of extreme heat, and when it might be time to look for medical assistance.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that extreme heat can exacerbate some pre-existing medical conditions, it can change the way you manage some conditions, and it has a disproportionately large impact on the very young and on older travellers.
Follow local advice, avoid the midday sun, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water and fluids and don’t go out walking alone! Check out our guidance for more information and advice.