The UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office have issued an amber heat alert for five regions across the UK, including London. The alert was issued on Thursday 26 June and will remain in place until 9am on Wednesday 2 July.
Making sure that our community remains safe is our top priority. To help everyone stay safe and comfortable during this high heat, we recommend taking precautions to avoid overheating while enjoying the sun.
It may seem obvious, but staying hydrated is often overlooked. Aim to drink between 1.5 and 2 litres of water each day and carry a water bottle with you wherever you go. To make it easy, there are water bottle refill stations located around campus - you can find them using this map.
- During the heat of the day, keep windows closed, use blinds, and temporarily move out of sunny areas. This may seem counter-intuitive, but during very high temperatures opening the windows will nearly always make it warmer inside and reduce the effectiveness of air conditioning.
- Staff are encouraged to wear loose fitting, and comfortable clothing, instead of more formal office attire. If you need to be outdoors, try to walk in the shade and don’t forget to use and reapply sunscreen as the UV index is currently high. Additionally, please consider what works best for you regarding travel to the office or working from home. If you have any concerns, please speak to your line manager.
- Increase air movement; e.g. by using local fans, which can be equivalent to reducing the temperature by around 2ºC. If your fan is dust free and in good working order, it should be safe to leave on for longer periods of time. But don’t leave a fan on overnight. You should also regularly test fans to make sure that electric and mechanical connections are working well.
- Please remember to switch off any equipment on your desk when you are not using it.
There are more tips on how to cope during periods of extreme heat on the NHS-s website. You can also read the Government-s Heatwave Plan for England.
You can also take advantage of the network of more than 100 free water fountains across London to refill your water while travelling.
- If you or someone else has signs of heatstroke including fast breathing or shortness of breath, a fit, loss of consciousness or is not responsive then we recommend you call 999.
- Lastly, please check in with your family, friends, and colleagues who might be particularly vulnerable to the heat.
With fire hazards increasing during hot weather, we encourage all staff to be extra vigilant about UCL-s fire and safety protocols. Where possible, please switch off any non-essential electrical equipment to reduce the risk of fire.
- University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT (0) 20 7679 2000
