The Department of Health has issued advice for coping with a heatwave.

The UK’s Department of Health (DH) has published its 2009 Heatwave Plan, urging people to take precautions in the heat and to look out for elderly or vulnerable friends and relatives.

It has issued practical advice that homeowners can take to ensure their homes are as cool as possible, and tips for coping during a heatwave. Excess heat can cause or exacerbate heart and respiratory problems, and can even lead to strokes, which can be potentially fatal.

Wayne Elliott, Head of Health Forecasting at the Met Office said: “Summer is nearly with us and it’s a good time to prepare for the high temperatures that we can experience in this country. The elderly and those who are ill, are particularly vulnerable during hot weather and the most oppressive conditions occur in our towns and cities. There is excellent information available on how to look after yourself and your neighbours during heatwaves.”

Advice for homeowners includes: painting buildings and walls white, as this reflects the sun’s rays; shading south and west-facing windows; planting shrubs around buildings; insulating roofs and cavities; and swapping metal blinds for curtains lined in white.

People vulnerable to the effects of heat are advised to stay out of the midday sun, to stay hydrated and identify the coolest room in the house.

Although temperatures in the UK do not ordinarily reach the extremes of other countries, heat can be difficult to cope with if you are not used to it. According to the UK’s Met Office, summer temperatures across the UK are likely to be warmer than average, with temperatures expected to be above 30°C.

From figures recorded in England in 2006, the DH found a relationship between temperature and weekly mortality, with an estimated 75 more deaths per week for each degree of increase in temperature. In 2003, a heatwave in London increased deaths in those aged 75 and over by 60%.

For more information about how to cope with the heat, read the DH’s Heatwave Plan for England 2009.