People in Burnley are being encouraged to take care, keep cool and look out for others as hot weather continues across the North West.
An amber heat-health alert has been issued for the region by the UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office. The alert is in place from 1am on Wednesday 24 June until 11pm on Thursday 25 June.
Heat-health alerts are issued when high temperatures are likely to affect people’s health and wellbeing and may put extra pressure on health and care services.
While many people enjoy warmer weather, high temperatures can cause dehydration, overheating, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
They can also make existing health conditions worse, particularly for people with heart or breathing problems.
People who may be more at risk include older people, babies and young children, people with long-term health conditions, those who live alone, people who are already unwell or dehydrated, outdoor workers, people who are homeless, and anyone spending long periods of time outside.
There are a number of simple steps people can take to reduce the risks:
- If you are going to do a physical activity, for example exercise or walking the dog, plan to do these during times of the day when it is cooler such as the early morning or the evening
- Keep your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun
- Drink plenty of fluids and limit your alcohol intake
- Check on family, friends and neighbours who may be at higher risk of becoming unwell, and if you are at higher risk, ask them to do the same for you
- Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them
- Try to avoid direct sunlight, especially between 11am and 3pm when UV levels are highest
- If you are going out during this time, cover up with suitable clothing, wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, seek shade and apply sunscreen liberally and re-apply frequently
- Make sure babies, children, older people and pets are not left alone in stationary cars or other closed spaces
People are also being reminded not to enter rivers or unsupervised open water to cool off during hot weather.
Rivers can look calm and inviting on hot days, but they can be dangerous. There may be hidden currents, sudden changes in depth and underwater objects, and cold water shock can affect even strong swimmers.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service advises people to swim somewhere safe, such as swimming baths, obey warning signs around water, and call 999 in an emergency, giving a clear location and nearby landmarks.
Anyone who needs somewhere cooler to spend time during the day can also make use of local cool spaces, including Burnley’s libraries and Down Town in Charter Walk Shopping Centre.
Libraries offer a free, welcoming place where people can cool off, sit down and take a break from the heat. People may wish to check opening times before travelling.
Down Town is kept at a constant temperature of around 18°C and is open weekdays from 9am to 4pm. People can call in to cool down, visit the Community Grocery, speak to the Burnley Together team for support, or simply take a break on one of the sofas.
Down Town can be found above New Look in Charter Walk Shopping Centre.
For more information about Down Town, visit: https://burnleytogether.org.uk/
Signs of heat exhaustion can include tiredness, dizziness, headache, feeling sick, excessive sweating, pale or clammy skin, cramps, a fast pulse, a high temperature and feeling very thirsty.
If someone has heat exhaustion, move them to a cool place, remove unnecessary clothing, give them water to drink and cool their skin with water or a fan.
If symptoms get worse, or someone shows signs of heatstroke, call 999 immediately. Signs of heatstroke can include confusion, hot skin that is not sweating, fast breathing, seizures or loss of consciousness.
For health advice, visit nhs.uk or 111.nhs.uk. In an emergency, call 999.
More hot weather advice is available from the NHS and GOV.UK.
Post expires at 2:54pm on Wednesday September 23rd, 2026