Australians give Brits advice on how to deal with extreme heat as Britain looks set to record its hottest day on record.
An Irishman lives in London to to Reddit Australia Aussies asking if they have “any tips on how not to melt”.
The teacher explained that the school they work in doesn’t have air conditioning – like most buildings in the UK.
“Temperatures are set to hit 39C in London over the next few days. You fine folks are more used to it than I am, anyone have any tips on how not to melt?’ he wrote.
“Before you start calling me Pom, I’m Irish. If you want to take the p***, at least be specific! Serious tips and mockery are equally welcome.’
Australians give Brits advice on how to deal with extreme heat as Britain looks set to record its hottest day on record. Pictured: Margate beach in Kent was packed on Sunday as thousands of people made their way to the coast to enjoy the glorious sunshine before temperatures soared on Monday and Tuesday
“Edit: It’s worth adding that I’m a teacher and will be working in a building with no air conditioning,” he added.
Britain could be hotter than Delhi and the Sahara on Monday, with experts predicting mercury could hit 41C – double the UK summer average.
The UK’s Met Office has issued the first red heat warning, urging motorists to beware of melting and warped tires on the road.
Many Aussies advised ensuring hats, sunscreen and water bottles are required for all children and adults, while others recommended freezing towels to stay cool on the road.
“I’m a teacher too and although we have air conditioning we regularly use a few things to keep the kids cool on these hot days,” wrote one Australian.
“First, hats, sunscreen, and water bottles are a requirement, not optional (no hat, no game). Let kids wet their hats and refill drink bottles as often as needed.
Many Aussies advised ensuring hats, sunscreen and water bottles are required for all children and adults, while others recommended freezing towels to stay cool on the road
“Turn off the lights – this is mostly psychological, but for some reason it seems to be helping! I should add that we don’t have blinds on our windows – if you have them you should close them to keep the heat out!
“I bought some plastic spray bottles from a $2 store (the kind you would spray your hair or a potted plant with) and run around spraying the kids during class – they love it!
“Fans all day long. If you don’t have a ceiling fan, it might be worth looking into a standing fan.
“Make the most of your morning sessions and slow down throughout the day. In the afternoon, when it’s really hot and the kids are done, just do mindful activities like reading.
“I also let the kids eat whenever they want on days like this – keeps the energy up and many bring frozen drinks etc from home.
People enjoy the hot weather at Hathersage outdoor pool in Hope Valley in the Peak District, Derbyshire as they try to keep cool today
The Met Office warns temperatures could reach 40C in some parts of the UK, with large parts of England set to experience the hottest day on record on Tuesday
‘Buy some bags of cheap ice cream sticks and stick them in the freezer (both our staff freezer and Home ec freezer are full in the summer!).
“Finally – get the hose out at playtime and quickly spray them all over.
“Water wastage is a big deal here, but on these insanely hot days just having a quick spray can help cool everyone off and bring a little relief. Plus- so much fun!
“Alternatively, sometimes we just fill a bucket and give them sponges, which they then throw at each other, etc
‘For yourself, stick a wet cloth in the freezer and enjoy that bad boy at recess.’
Another wrote: “The worst part is your structures don’t handle the heat well as they are designed to keep the heat in.
People sunbathe at West Reservoir in London today ahead of what is expected to be two of the warmest days on record
“My advice is don’t spend too much time indoors, get outside (in a shaded area with a frozen 1.5 liter bottle of ice and cool, wet towels) and stay hydrated.
“If you’re indoors, make sure there are a couple of fans and a thermometer inside.
“Keep the house with windows closed, blinds closed and electricity off. Even though it’s just a 39C day, it can rise to over 45C in your home.
“When teaching (I’m also a teacher) keep the windows open, the fans running and stay hydrated.
“Ice blocks or even ice chews are great too, keep the core temperature down.”
Another commented: “I’ve been through a couple of heat waves in London in the high 30’s and it totally sucks sorry mate. No air conditioning, no airflow, heat radiating off every surface. you will be unhappy
“The best thing you can do is get some pedestal fans with a few bags of peas and cooling mats and drink as much as you can (water or alcohol to blow your mind).
“One of the worst cities to live in with high temperatures, sorry,” he added.
A woman holds a fan as she tries to keep her cool while riding the London Underground today. Transport for London bosses are urging people not to travel on Monday and Tuesday if possible
Others advised “really thinking about water intake” and “doing as much as you can in the evenings” to avoid the hottest part of the day.
“Freezing damp towels is the best tip – even placing a pair on a bed around you is usually enough to cool you down enough to get you to sleep on a hot night,” said one.
“Keep as much sun out of the buildings as possible and open all windows at night to let in the cool air,” one said.
BRIGHTON: People are jumping into the sea after the Met Office issued its first “red” warning of exceptional heat on Friday and forecast record highs of 40 degrees Celsius next week
“Avoid hard surfaces outdoors as much as possible, as hard surfaces create hot spots. Stay out of the sun as much as possible, cover up, wear sunglasses and bring an umbrella to keep the sun off you. Sunburn is terrible in hot weather,” said another.
The UK Met Office has also stated that heat in the UK feels hotter than many other countries due to high humidity levels, meaning the human body has a harder time cooling down as sweat does not evaporate as quickly.
Buildings in the UK are also “designed to keep the heat in compared to hotter countries”, meaning the temperature often doesn’t drop below 20°C at night – meaning Brits don’t get a break at night to take care of themselves to cool down
