Paint your house white to beat heat wave: DOH

Britain’s Department of Health (DOH) advised yesterday that people could fight the health troubles during periods of extremely hot summer by painting their homes white to reflect the heat and planting some trees and shrubs for shade.

The DOH's Heatwave Plan for England, which is designed to beat the effects of climate change, urges everyone to be aware of the health risks faced by elderly friends and relatives during the heat wave.

Explaining the Heatwave Plan, Yvonne Doyle, Regional Director of Public Health for the South East Coast, said: "This year's plan encourages everyone to take practical action. Keeping the home as cool as possible and remembering the needs of friends, relatives and neighbours is essential."

DOH’s tips to beat the heat
Compiled in a 39-page booklet, the Heatwave Plan advises Britons to paint their homes white to keep the rooms cool, plant more trees to create natural shade and eat cold foods such as salad and fruit.

Other tips include replacing metal blinds with white-lined curtains as well as identifying the coolest room in the house and avoiding going out between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. if someone is vulnerable to the high temperatures.

The Heatwave Plan also advises homeowners to replace carpets with tiles or wood to keep rooms cool, and shade south and west-facing windows as temperatures rise.

People, especially those with respiratory problems, are advised to stay inside during the hottest part of the day, and keep their windows shaded and closed when the temperature is hotter outside than inside.

The Met Office forecast
Officials at the Met Office have already predicted that the June to August period will be 'a barbecue summer', in which temperatures regularly surge above 30C (86F).

Patrick Sachon, health service development manager at the Met Office, said: "If we had a period of sustained hot weather, and there is nothing to say that we won't have a period of hot weather that could be worse than in 2003, we could see a similar number of mortalities."

In 2003, about 2,000 people had died when temperatures soared for 10 consecutive days in some parts of the country, peaking at 38C (100F) in southern England.

The Met Office spokesman Richard Aldcroft said: “We are expecting temperatures in the UK in June to August to be higher than normal. Rainfall is likely to be near or below average. A repeat of the wet summers of 2007 and 2008 is unlikely.

“We can't say at the moment whether there will be a heatwave as it is almost impossible to predict temperatures that far ahead. We will have more of an idea when we release our next seasonal update at the end of this month.”

Meanwhile, Britons are advised to contact their local environmental health officer if they have concerns for themselves or a friend, neighbour or relative vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat.

Environmental health workers, employed by local authorities, can inspect the condition of a home for hazards to health, and offer advice on how to deal with the climate change.