HEALTH chiefs have urged the region’s elderly to keep cool, as temperatures are set to rise again into next week.

On social media, Public Health England directed warnings at care home managers: “Temperatures are set to rise again over the weekend across the south west.

“Care home residents can be vulnerable during hot weather. Keep your residents safe.”

Temperatures will stay relatively steady next week, with the Met Office predicting highs of 26C on Monday and 27C on Thursday.

Public Health England has produced specialist heatwave guidance for those who work in care homes or look after older people.

The government doctors said: “Keeping cool in hot weather is very important for health. In previous hot weather in the UK and Europe, people in residential and nursing homes were at particularly high risk of illness and death.”

They advised people to keep a look out for signs of heat-related sickness, like nausea, drowsiness and headaches. Encouraging people to drink lots of water, turning off heating, taking cold showers and moving care home residents to cooler rooms, have been suggested as way to help the elderly battle the heat.

Earlier this week, Dr Thomas Waite, consultant in health protection at Public Health England, said: “Temperatures are likely to rise through the weekend and potentially into next week, which may leave older people, young children and those with long-term conditions, including heart and lung diseases, struggling to adapt to the heat. So keep an eye on friends and family who may be at risk.

“To beat the heat, try to keep out the sun from 11am to 3pm, walk in the shade if you can, apply sunscreen and wear a hat if you have to go out in the heat. Also try to carry water with you when travelling.”

For more, visit: www.nhs.uk/heatwave.