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Heatwaves: how to prepare your home and family for hot days

Get ready for a heatwave: a practical guide

⏱ 3 min read

Cool home, water, checking on older people. A guide based on official advice. The same text is in the free SurvivalZone.app and works without internet.

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Heatwaves are now one of the most common weather hazards in Europe. Older people, young children, people with long-term illnesses and outdoor workers are most at risk.

Heat rarely arrives without warning. Forecasts show it days ahead, so there is time to prepare.

Cool your home before it gets hot

  1. Shade the sunny windows from the morning. Outside blinds and awnings work better than curtains inside.
  2. Air the house at night and early in the morning, when it is cooler outside, and keep windows closed during the day.
  3. Switch off things that give off heat: the oven, computer, chargers.
  4. A fan does not lower the temperature but helps when the room is not too hot. A bowl of ice in front of it gives short relief.

Who needs extra attention

  1. Older people often do not feel thirsty and do not notice they are overheating. Call older parents or neighbours every day during a heatwave. Some medicines change how the body copes with heat, so it is worth asking a doctor or pharmacist whether anything needs to change.
  2. Never leave children or animals in a car, not even for a moment. The temperature inside rises very fast.

Water and food

  1. Drink regularly, before you feel thirsty. Choose water and avoid alcohol. Light meals are easier on the body than heavy ones. Store medicines and food as the packaging says, because heat can spoil them.

Recognise heatstroke

  1. Headache, dizziness, nausea, weakness and heavy sweating mean: move somewhere cool, drink and rest. Hot, dry skin, confusion and loss of consciousness mean heatstroke. Then call 112 and cool the person down.

A plan for hot days

  1. Plan effort and shopping for the morning or evening. Find out where there is a cool place nearby: a library, a shopping centre, a church. Heat warnings are issued by your national weather service.

Checklist

  1. Blinds or curtains on the sunny side
  2. A plan for airing at night
  3. Water in the fridge
  4. A daily call to older relatives
  5. Medicines checked for heat
  6. A cool place nearby
  7. Weather warnings on your phone

See also

Frequently asked questions

How can I cool my home without air conditioning?

Shade windows from the sun during the day, air the house at night and early morning, and switch off devices that give off heat. Outside blinds work best.

What are the signs of heatstroke?

Hot, often dry skin, confusion, vomiting, loss of consciousness. It is life-threatening: call 112 and cool the person.

Who is most at risk in a heatwave?

Older people, young children, pregnant women, people with long-term illnesses and people doing physical work outdoors.

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Sources

Official sources are checked automatically every day. Last check: 2026-11-04.

General guidance only; it does not replace the emergency services. If a life is in danger, call 112.