High-rise living: Hot weather guide for residents

Why your home can get hot

Residents of high-rise buildings need to take particular care during heatwaves. Your home, especially if you live on an upper floor, can be more susceptible to heat.

This is because heat rises, and a home that is too hot can very quickly impact your health and the health of those around you.

Those most at risk of heat exhaustion or heat related illnesses are:

• over 65-year-olds
• children and babies, particularly those under five-years-old
• pregnant women
• people with long-term health conditions, especially those with heart or breathing problems
• people who take certain medications
• people who may have difficulty adapting their behaviour to warmer weather such as those living with dementia or other mental health conditions
• people who use alcohol or recreational drugs
• people who live alone or are socially isolated
• people who rely on the assistance of others to complete routine activities
• people who are at home during the hottest part of the day such as home workers

What you should do

There are lots of practical steps you can take to ensure you and your loved ones keep cool and stay safe when temperatures rise.

• close windows and draw blinds and curtains to keep out the sun’s rays
• ensure your heating is turned off and switch off any unnecessary electrical equipment
• if you have a ventilation system, make sure this is switched on and operating in ‘summer mode’
• keep ovens switched off to minimise the flow of hot air
• open windows at night when it is cooler to help circulate air and aid ventilation
• use fans to circulate air
• stay hydrated – drink plenty of fluids and limit your consumption of alcohol
• check on family, friends and neighbours who may be more vulnerable and ask them to check on you
• know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke and what to do if you or someone else has them