Kit builder · Hot weather
Build your heatwave kit
UKHSA’s ‘Beat the heat’ guidance and the NHS advice on coping in hot weather, turned into a list for your household, with a line for babies and pets.
Most of what keeps people well in a heatwave costs nothing: shading the windows that face the sun, opening them when it is cooler outside, drinking regularly and staying out of the sun between 11am and 3pm. UKHSA’s ‘Beat the heat’ guidance and the NHS page on coping in hot weather say so plainly, and this builder starts there. The kit is the few things that make that advice easy to follow: a way to know how hot the rooms are, a fan that is used the right way, water bottles, sun protection, and somewhere sensible for medicines.
UKHSA says anyone can become unwell in the heat, and some people more than others: people aged 65 and over, babies and children aged 5 and under, pregnant women, and people with heart or breathing problems, dementia, diabetes, kidney disease, Parkinson’s or mobility problems. If that is you, or someone you look in on, the list matters more, and so does the line about checking on each other.
Tell us who is in the household and the hats and water bottles count everyone; lines for a baby and for pets appear when you add them. There is no day count, because a heatwave kit is mostly things you use every summer day. For the 72-hour household list, use the home kit builder.
Who is this for?
Your list: 16 items, 10 essential
You probably own some of this already: only buy the gaps. Each price shows when it was checked.
- Room thermometerEssential
The NHS says to check the temperature of rooms, especially where people at higher risk live and sleep. It is also how you know whether a fan will help: UKHSA says use electric fans if the air temperature is below 35°C.
One for the bedroom of whoever is most at risk, or one you move between rooms. Any cheap indoor thermometer does the job.
Keeping cool without air conditioning → - Curtains, blinds or shutters for sunny windowsEssential
UKHSA’s first step for a cooler home is to close blinds and curtains on windows exposed to direct sunlight during the day, and external shutters or shades if you have them. The NHS says to open windows at night, when the air outside has cooled down.
Whatever already hangs at the windows that face the sun. A blackout lining is one option for a sunny bedroom; that part is our suggestion. UKHSA says external shutters, roller blinds or awnings are very effective if you are making changes.
Deconovo CTW11001 eyeletAlso good: Kinfolk lining 46x54 — £19.99as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.£10.33Check price →Compareas of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. - Electric fanOptional
The NHS and UKHSA both say electric fans can help if the temperature is below 35°C. UKHSA adds: don’t aim the fan directly at your body, as this can lead to dehydration. Above 35°C, look for a cooler room or a cooler public building instead.
One for the room where people sleep is the useful minimum. A rechargeable fan also works through a power cut.
Koonie 10,000mAh Rechargeable Clip Fan (8-inch)Also good: JISULIFE Portable Neck Fan (Bladeless, 4,000mAh) — £29.99as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.£43.09Check price →Compareas of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. - Refillable water bottle each2 bottlesEssential
UKHSA says that if you are going out, take a refillable bottle filled with water, and take extra water for journeys on public transport or by car.
One each for anyone who goes out, filled before you leave.
- Plenty to drink at homeEssential
UKHSA says drink fluids regularly through the day, enough that your pee is a pale straw colour; water, diluted squash and lower-fat milks are good choices, and limit alcohol. The NHS adds cold food and regular cold drinks, and avoiding caffeine and hot drinks.
There is no official litre figure for hot weather, so we don’t invent one: the pale-straw test is the guide. UKHSA also says to look out for advice if water supplies are likely to be affected, so a few bottles in reserve are worth having; that part is our suggestion.
How to store water → - Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higherEssential
The NHS recommends sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and at least 4-star UVA protection, applied generously and reapplied often: every 2 hours, and straight after swimming, towelling or sweating, even if it says water resistant.
Enough for everyone who goes out. The NHS says to check it is in date: the open-jar symbol on the pack shows how many months it lasts once opened. Keep babies under 6 months out of direct sunlight rather than relying on sunscreen.
- Wide-brimmed hat each2 hatsEssential
UKHSA says wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face, eyes, head, ears and neck. The NHS says a wide-brimmed hat is better than sunscreen alone for the head.
One each, babies included.
- SunglassesOptional
UKHSA says sunglasses that are wraparound or have wide arms. The NHS says look for the CE mark and British Standard 12312-1.
A pair for anyone who spends time outside. Nothing to buy if you already have a pair that meets the standard.
- Loose, light-coloured clothesEssential
The NHS and UKHSA both say lightweight, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothes. Outdoors, UKHSA suggests a long-sleeved shirt, trousers or long skirts in close-weave fabrics to keep the sun off your skin.
What is already in the wardrobe. If someone starts to overheat, UKHSA says remove unnecessary clothing such as a jacket or socks.
- Cold packs and a water sprayOptional
For someone with heat exhaustion, the NHS says cool their skin by spraying or sponging them with cool water and fanning them, and cold packs wrapped in a cloth and put under the armpits or on the neck are good too. UKHSA says the same.
A couple of cold packs in the freezer and a spray or a sponge. A bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel works in a pinch; that part is our suggestion.
- Oral rehydration sachetsOptional
The NHS says someone with heat exhaustion needs plenty of water, and an isotonic sports drink or an oral rehydration powder you mix with water can help replace the salt lost through sweating.
A pharmacist can recommend one, the NHS says, including which suits a child. Make them up exactly as the packet says.
- Medicines stored as the packet saysEssential
UKHSA says keep taking prescribed medicines unless a medical professional advises otherwise, and that some need storing below 25°C or in the fridge, following the instructions on the packaging. Its home checklist says to check your medicines can be stored that way before hot weather arrives.
Read the storage line on each packet now. If you are worried about a medicine in the heat, ask your pharmacist or call NHS 111.
Fridge medicines if the power goes → - Fridge thermometerOptional
UKHSA and GOV.UK Prepare both say to check that fridges, freezers and fans are working properly before hot weather, for example by checking food is staying cold or frozen. A fridge thermometer makes that a glance rather than a guess.
One in the fridge; a second in the freezer if you want to be sure of both.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.£25Check price →Compareas of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. - A list of people to check onEssential
The NHS and UKHSA both say check on family, friends and neighbours who may be at higher risk, and if you are at higher risk, ask them to do the same for you. The Met Office suggests finding out whether someone is already looking after a vulnerable neighbour, or whether they would like a daily call.
Names and numbers on paper, and who calls whom. If you are worried about someone’s health, GOV.UK Prepare says contact a pharmacist, their GP or NHS 111.
- Heat alerts and weather warnings on your phoneEssential
GOV.UK Prepare says check the forecast and warnings, and pay particular attention to any National Severe Weather Warnings or Heat-Health Alerts for your area. UKHSA’s heat-health alerts run from 1 June to 30 September, with extra alerts if heat arrives outside that season.
Free. The Met Office app can alert you for your area, and UKHSA publishes its alerts on its data dashboard; they cover England. Our guide explains what yellow, amber and red mean.
Heat-health alerts explained → - Water in the car, and nobody left in itOptional
GOV.UK Prepare says pack water bottles in your car boot in case of a breakdown, and never leave babies, children, older adults or pets alone in a stationary car: small, closed spaces get dangerously hot very quickly. The Met Office says even on cool days, strong sun can make a car very hot.
A couple of bottles in the boot through the summer, refreshed now and then.
One of each goes into your Amazon basket in one go (Amazon may ask you to sign in first). Change the quantities or take out anything you already own before you pay.
We don’t add these up: each price is shown beside its item, and you’ll probably only need some of them.
Heatstroke is a medical emergency: call 999. The NHS lists a very high temperature, hot skin that is not sweating, fast breathing or heartbeat, confusion, a fit or loss of consciousness. For heat exhaustion, move the person somewhere cool, remove unnecessary clothing, give plenty of water and cool their skin; they should feel better within 30 minutes. If they don’t, call 999; if you are struggling to treat it, call NHS 111.
Fans help only up to a point: UKHSA says use electric fans if the air temperature is below 35°C, and don’t aim them directly at your body. Check that any heating is off, and turn off lights and electrical equipment you are not using.
If the power goes in hot weather, never run a generator, barbecue or camping stove indoors, in a garage or in a tent to cook or to power a fan: the NHS lists portable generators, and barbecues or camping stoves used inside, among the causes of carbon monoxide poisoning. A rechargeable fan or a power bank is the safe way to keep air moving.
Never leave babies, children, older adults or pets alone in a parked car, even for a short time (GOV.UK Prepare, the Met Office).
Cooling off in open water: UKHSA says open water can be much colder than it looks and can cause cold water shock, so only swim where there are lifeguards, never after drinking alcohol, and always with someone else.
UKHSA’s heat-health alerts cover England. In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, follow the Met Office’s weather warnings and the advice from Public Health Wales, NHS inform or nidirect.
Get your personalised checklist
A printable PDF sized to 2 adults, with a QR code back to your list.
Your kit covers supplies. The Family File covers everything else: who to ring, where the paperwork is, what someone would need to know.
Questions
At what temperature do fans stop helping?
The NHS and UKHSA both say electric fans can help if the temperature is below 35°C. UKHSA adds that you shouldn’t aim a fan directly at your body, as this can lead to dehydration. Above that, move to a cooler room, or to a cooler public building such as a library, place of worship or supermarket, if you can get there safely.
How much water should I drink in a heatwave?
UKHSA gives no fixed amount: drink regularly through the day, and enough that your pee is a pale straw colour. Water, diluted squash and lower-fat milks are good choices; fruit juice and smoothies are high in sugar, and alcohol dehydrates. Take a refillable bottle when you go out, and extra water for journeys.
Who is most at risk in hot weather?
UKHSA lists people aged 65 and over, babies and children aged 5 and under, pregnant women, people with heart or breathing problems, dementia, diabetes, kidney disease, Parkinson’s or mobility problems, people on certain medicines, people who live alone, and people who work or exercise outside. Check on anyone like that you know, and ask them to check on you.
What do heat-health alerts mean?
UKHSA and the Met Office issue heat-health alerts when hot weather could affect people’s health, mainly from 1 June to 30 September. They cover England. Our guide sets out what yellow, amber and red mean and who each one is aimed at.
Sources (11)
- UKHSA: Beat the heat, staying safe in hot weather (GOV.UK)
- UKHSA: Beat the heat, keep cool at home checklist (GOV.UK)
- NHS: heatwave, how to cope in hot weather
- NHS: heat exhaustion and heatstroke
- NHS: sunscreen and sun safety
- NHS: dehydration (rehydration solutions from a pharmacist)
- NHS: carbon monoxide poisoning
- GOV.UK Prepare: hot weather
- GOV.UK: Weather-Health Alerting System (UKHSA)
- UKHSA data dashboard: heat-health alerts
- Met Office: hot weather and its impactswith the British Veterinary Association’s pet advice
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