An extreme heatwave sweeping the UK has seen the country record its warmest night on record, according to provisional Met Office figures.
As Britons brace for another unseasonably hot day, an Australian woman has offered her advice on how to cope with the high temperatures.
The UK is likely to see its hottest day on record today (Tuesday 19 July), with temperatures forecast to reach 43C in some places.
In Australia, where average summer temperatures can reach nearly 40C, locals are better prepared for heat waves and dry conditions.
Many homes and facilities have air conditioning to help people stay comfortable. However, air conditioning is unusual to find in British homes and not every shop is equipped with it.
Follow the latest updates on the UK heatwave
Dr Ellie Mackin Roberts, an Australian living in London, took to Twitter to share her top tips for coping with the heat without air conditioning.
Her advice, documented in a Twitter thread, includes closing the curtains “all day long.”
At night, however, she added: “You can open up [the curtains] at night, when you will also (if possible) open your windows all the way and direct the fans to blow.”
Directing a fan to face the outside through an open window can help create cross ventilation, which brings in cooler air from outside the home while forcing warm air outside.
Dr Roberts also advised people to buy a spray bottle or a spray bottle, which can be used to spray water on the skin to keep it fresh.
“Also good for keeping pets cool – which is VERY IMPORTANT,” she added.
Other tips offered in her thread include ice packs, staying hydrated and wearing high SPF sunscreen.
She also recommends freezing wet towels, small and large, and using them to cool certain parts of the body or to sleep under.
Dr Roberts also stressed the importance of recognizing the signs of heat stroke, describing the condition as “no joke”.
According to the NHS, signs of heatstroke include feeling uncomfortable even after resting in a cool place and drinking plenty of water, not sweating even when you feel very hot, a high temperature of 40 degrees Celsius or above and feeling confused.
She offered a rather unusual remedy for heatstroke, which involved putting an “ice pack on the armpit”. However, she urged people to “seek medical advice and/or attention” after this step.
Another unusual tip was for treating dehydration. She said: “Drink half a pint of beer (including non-alcoholic!) and then move straight to water or a sports drink or cordial if you don’t like water.
Dr Roberts’s introduction was greeted with appreciation by hot-headed Brits, but her use of the words “true Australian” was questioned by some.
She added in a follow-up tweet: “While I woke up to thousands of notifications from a thread that was meant to help some of my friends, I want to say that my use of ‘real Australian’ was tongue in cheek. and I want to acknowledge that the people of Boonwurrung are the traditional owners of the land I grew up on.”
