Staying cool and safe in heat

With temperatures rising every summer, we’ve put together a handy guide for staying cool and safe at home, in the car or with your pets.

Healthy home

Summer is great for spending time outdoors, but it's also an opportunity for burglars. With windows and doors left open, naps in the garden and people spending their evenings out, homes can be left empty for hours.

To help to stop a burglar in their tracks, use these simple tips:

• lock all doors and take the keys with you when leaving the house.
• close all windows when leaving the house and lock the downstairs ones.
• use window limiters to make it harder for someone to climb in.
• if your home has a window that’s easily accessible from a flat roof, get a lock installed.
• lock your back gates with a padlock.
• use timer switches on your lights to make it look like you're in.
• move wheelie bins away from gates or fences so thieves can't use them to escape.
• keep tools and ladders locked away securely, as they could be used to break windows or glass in doors.

Cool car

Opening your car door and feeling like you’re stepping into a sauna isn’t much fun, so taking time to prepare for your journey can pay off.

Running the air con for a few minutes before getting into the car gives everything a chance to cool down. Remember to stand with your car while doing this, as leaving your car alone with the keys in the ignition could have unexpected consequences.

If you’re only going a short distance and fancy enjoying the sun, then leave your car at home and walk.

Protected pets

Our pets are members of the family, so we want to know they’re comfortable and happy at all times. They may be wearing a permanent fur coat, but you can keep them cool with these easy tips:

• make sure your pet has access to clean, cold water at all times.
• take dogs for a walk during cooler parts of the day, like early morning or late evening.
• try to keep energetic play to cooler times for cats and dogs.
• buy an electric fan and keep it at floor level.
• freeze your pet’s favourite treats into an ice cube, or wrap a frozen bottle of water in a tea towel for them to lie with.
• keep your pets well groomed, especially if they’re long haired.
• stay away from hot pavements as they can damage paws.
• never leave a dog in a hot car.
• be aware of dribbling, excessive panting and collapse, as these are signs of heatstroke in cats and dogs.
• if you suspect your pet has heatstroke, move them to a cool place, dampen their coat with cold (never freezing) water and contact your vet immediately.