Brits urged to spray hands with water on Wednesday and Thursday

Brits have been urged to spray their hands with water on the hottest days this week, as temperatures could reach as high as 40C in parts of the country. Britain is currently boiling under a heatwave, with high humidity making it particularly uncomfortable. Staying cool is the challenge on most people’s minds this week, especially when it comes to sleeping at night. While electric fans can make a difference, many are still struggling for most of the day.

There are clever ways to cool your body down, such as spraying your hands with cold water. Hot temperatures can make it harder not only to fall asleep, but to get a good quality night’s sleep. So, it’s important to take steps to manage your body’s temperature. Sam Sadighi, sleep expert at Get Laid Beds, has shared her advice and says that a body that’s too hot causes restlessness and frequent waking up in the middle of the night, resulting in a sleep that doesn’t set us up for the day ahead.

“Temperatures too cold or hot can make for an uncomfortable night’s sleep, including restlessness, frequent waking up and less restorative sleep,” she said.

“The room temperature needs to be comfortable, but definitely on the cooler side, ideally between 16 and 19 degrees. That’s because our body temperature lowers overnight, and if it’s too warm, it confuses our brain and body.

“For those who struggle to sleep as the weather hots up, there is a simple hack I’d encourage people to try. I recommend people spray their hands and feet with water. This trick is effective because it simulates sweating. As the water evaporates, it cools you down and helps to pull the heat from your core. Alternatively, you can put your hands and feet under cool water without drying them off before you get into bed.”

“Keeping your body temperature down in bed will help you to fall asleep and increase the chances of you having a good night’s rest,” she added.

This week’s heatwave could break records in the UK, experts have warned. Red weather warnings are in place for parts of southern England on Wednesday and Thursday.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued its own red heat health warnings, covering the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East, South West, London, and East of England.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA said: “A red heat health alert indicates a risk to life for even the healthy population, but simple actions like staying hydrated, avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the day, and keeping your home cool can make a big difference. It’s also important to look out for others, especially elderly relatives, neighbours, and those with underlying health conditions, to make sure they are aware of the forecast and following the necessary advice.”