Gransnet forums

AIBU

Behaviour during the Heatwave

(78 Posts)
Caleo Sat 21-Jun-25 15:31:52

Two adults I know are travelling to a bicycle show today , in an inner city, from their home in a country village. One is overweight and recovering fro a serious stroke early this year. The other will have to push her wheelchair. Both are about sixty years old.

My son said !The world does not stop because there is a heatwave". I'm not going to argue with him , but do I think people should change their habit according to the extreme weather event.

Baggs Sun 22-Jun-25 11:42:48

nanna8

I recommend not coming to Australia between December and late March if you find it hard to cope with warm weather! Especially Queensland and the North. You do get used to it,though. We once spent the Christmas period up in Darwin and after a week or so your body kind of adjusts. You can’t swim in the sea,though, too many crocs.

Well said, nanna8.

A British heatwave is not and extreme weather event. People in the tropics and parts of Australia, etc, live their whole lives in similar and greater heat.

ayse Sun 22-Jun-25 11:47:23

We lived for seven years in Turkey. I used to go shopping to the local market for 8.00am, then onto Tesco (yes, in Turkey) for the remainder. I was home by 10.00 then under cover until 3.30 or 4.00. Plenty of water, ayran (yoghurt diluted with water with a pinch of salt). I kept cool with cotton clothes and walking on stone floors barefoot. The weather was warm and hot for 9 months of the year. Keeping cool and free from sunburn was the ideal.

I love the hot weather and learnt to be sensible.

GrannyGravy13 Sun 22-Jun-25 12:04:32

Some people’s U.K. heatwave is my good summer 🌞🌞🌞

RosieandherMaw Sun 22-Jun-25 12:18:35

Smileless2012

What never ceases to amaze and infuriate me are the idiots who take their dogs for a walk in the middle of the day in this weather angry.

I totally agree but trying to persuade Rosie that her main walkie will have to wait is NOT easy.

Shinamae Sun 22-Jun-25 12:29:34

I well remember working in Wales in the summer of 76, now that was hot 🥵🥵🥵🥵

JenniferEccles Sun 22-Jun-25 12:49:42

I can understand both sides of the argument about how much should normal life be on hold when the weather turns hot.

I guess it’s down to each individual to decide but I must admit I feel sorry for the husband in this case having to push an overweight, unwell wife in a wheelchair !

I too thought of what happened to Michael Mosley, although of course that was in Greece with much higher temperatures than we’ve had here.

GrannyGravy13 Sun 22-Jun-25 12:55:20

Shinamae

I well remember working in Wales in the summer of 76, now that was hot 🥵🥵🥵🥵

I was young and in love and spent every available free minute on the local beach, bliss.

Cossy Sun 22-Jun-25 12:57:32

argymargy

This weather is not "extreme". I really don't understand why people get hysterical when the temperature gets slightly nearer the level of what they go abroad every year to obtain!

I respectfully disagree, amber weather warnings for heat across much of UK, people don’t behave sensibly, rarely reapply sunscreen soon enough, don’t stay out of the midday sun (mad dogs and English men!) and also often don’t drink anywhere enough water.

Also anyone on certain antidepressants may sweat far more and need more hydration.

In terms of the original post, I’m torn, perhaps they’ve taken precautions and have what they need for their outing.

Also “abroad” normally has air con and swimming pools or the sea to cool off in.

Cossy Sun 22-Jun-25 13:03:24

Smileless2012

What never ceases to amaze and infuriate me are the idiots who take their dogs for a walk in the middle of the day in this weather angry.

Absolutely!! Ours walked between 6-7 (or earlier) always inside by 8:00am

I cannot believe the stupidity of people out with their poor dogs at the height of the sun on hot days!

Baggs Sun 22-Jun-25 13:04:08

I guess it’s down to each individual to decide but I must admit I feel sorry for the husband in this case having to push an overweight, unwell wife in a wheelchair !

If he was bothered that it would adversely affect his health he could have refused, one presumes. And, who knows, his wheelchair-bound wife might well have agreed.

It is down to individuals. Everyone who isn't that particular individual can should butt out. Why do people busy themselves so much with other people's business?

Tenko Sun 22-Jun-25 17:29:23

I’m sorry but I don’t see the issue , yes it’s hot but if this couple are driving or taking public transport, they’d probably have aircon .plus I’m assuming the event would have aircon . As long as they have lots of water and wearing cool clothing .
This couple may have been looking forward to this event. Friends of ours were at the cricket this weekend . They’d paid a lot of money for tickets and are big cricket fans , a heat wave would not stop them going . They had water, hats , suncream . And these are guys in their late 60s early 70s and some have health issues .
Life doesn’t stop due to the weather , you just need to be prepared .

JenniferEccles Sun 22-Jun-25 22:52:56

I don’t think anyone on here is ‘busying themselves so much with other people’s business’ as you put it Baggs
Posters are just giving their opinion on the wisdom or otherwise of the actions of the couple.

Mt61 Sun 22-Jun-25 23:22:35

‘Oh no’, I wouldn’t want to be heaving a friends wheelchair in this heat 😳
I found my dads wheelchair hard work, and that was electric.

Rosie51 Mon 23-Jun-25 01:03:01

Baggs

nanna8

I recommend not coming to Australia between December and late March if you find it hard to cope with warm weather! Especially Queensland and the North. You do get used to it,though. We once spent the Christmas period up in Darwin and after a week or so your body kind of adjusts. You can’t swim in the sea,though, too many crocs.

Well said, nanna8.

A British heatwave is not and extreme weather event. People in the tropics and parts of Australia, etc, live their whole lives in similar and greater heat.

So the experts who have issued an amber heat-health warning don't know what they're talking about? Those expected excess deaths are figments of the imagination? Plenty of countries have much harsher winters than ours so I suppose comments and warnings about appropriate behaviour in very cold weather are also superfluous and any excess deaths not worth mentioning?

RosieandherMaw Mon 23-Jun-25 01:03:40

It is down to individuals. Everyone who isn't that particular individual can should butt out. Why do people busy themselves so much with other people's business

But that is the rationale of Gransnet. hmm

windmill1 Mon 23-Jun-25 03:45:45

When the temps get to around 25 degrees, I always start thinking sympathetically of people working in fish & chip shops - the conditions must be an absolute killer.

Galton Mon 23-Jun-25 14:27:27

Can anyone suggest a cool mat for my husband because no one but no one is suffering with the heat more than him. I hope you have all made a note.

Personally 24 is just about right but not with high humidity. You just have to be sensible.

GrauntyHelen Mon 23-Jun-25 14:58:22

Its really none of your business though is it? If I was one of those people Id be furious you were posting about me on social media

granjan66 Mon 23-Jun-25 15:03:23

Some people react differently to heat, I grew up in a country where 30C was normal in the summer, in UK it is a heatwave!

Dickens Mon 23-Jun-25 16:02:14

Rosie51

Baggs

nanna8

I recommend not coming to Australia between December and late March if you find it hard to cope with warm weather! Especially Queensland and the North. You do get used to it,though. We once spent the Christmas period up in Darwin and after a week or so your body kind of adjusts. You can’t swim in the sea,though, too many crocs.

Well said, nanna8.

A British heatwave is not and extreme weather event. People in the tropics and parts of Australia, etc, live their whole lives in similar and greater heat.

So the experts who have issued an amber heat-health warning don't know what they're talking about? Those expected excess deaths are figments of the imagination? Plenty of countries have much harsher winters than ours so I suppose comments and warnings about appropriate behaviour in very cold weather are also superfluous and any excess deaths not worth mentioning?

So the experts who have issued an amber heat-health warning don't know what they're talking about? Those expected excess deaths are figments of the imagination? Plenty of countries have much harsher winters than ours so I suppose comments and warnings about appropriate behaviour in very cold weather are also superfluous and any excess deaths not worth mentioning?

Quite.

In our temperate climate we get periods of much higher-than-usual temperatures. The health authorities then have the audacity to warn us that those with certain medical conditions might be at risk... of course the general public is always so sensible and clued-up so it's entirely unnecessary hmm.
It must be exasperating for those who don't need to heed such advice.
Of course other countries with a different climate pattern experience constant, and higher, temperatures - but it's all relative.

Millie22 Mon 23-Jun-25 16:19:23

I'm a great fan of the sunshine but when it's hot and that's 30 deg or above you have to rest.

It's why there is a siesta in hot countries.

jocork Mon 23-Jun-25 16:56:23

I've never coped well with heat and before having children used to go to warmer climes in winter as most places would be too hot for me in summer. Once we had school age children and with me then working in education that became impossible. I don't do holidays to hot places. We went to Egypt in January one year and they had a heatwave - 40 degrees in the Valley of the Kings!
I'm taking it easy at the moment and my pedestal fan is on most of the time. Thankfully I don't suffer as much since losing a lot of weight in the last few years, but I'm still not enjoying this weather much.

sazz1 Mon 23-Jun-25 19:23:27

Our vet appointment for a broken claw was delayed by an hour due to 2 emergency admissions. I asked the vet if it was a traffic accident and were they OK. She told me it was Heat Stroke and ok at the moment. She didn't seem very confident when she said that so think they were v poorly. To both be admitted they must be very ill.
Heat Stroke is life threatening in animals and people.

CanadianGran Mon 23-Jun-25 21:00:24

I suspect the bicycle show is an indoor event, at an arena or similar? If so, they will drive there in air conditioned car, and the event will be air conditioned as well, or at least cool because it is indoors. The only issue I see would be getting from parking to the event.

People do need to be sensible during a heat wave, and spend a minimum amount of time in the sun, or places where there is no breeze. Older people are more susceptible to heat stoke because our bodies do not regulate as well as when we were younger, nor does the body give the proper signals to the brain that it is overheating until too late.

We are in an area that most places do not have air conditioning, so air circulation, drawing drapes or lowering blinds, and opening doors or windows to create a cross-breeze are good ways to limit heat.

Allira Mon 23-Jun-25 21:57:04

Shinamae

I well remember working in Wales in the summer of 76, now that was hot 🥵🥵🥵🥵

I had a toddler and a new baby and the threat of stand pipes!

nanna8

I recommend not coming to Australia between December and late March if you find it hard to cope with warm weather! Especially Queensland and the North. You do get used to it,though. We once spent the Christmas period up in Darwin and after a week or so your body kind of adjusts. You can’t swim in the sea,though, too many crocs.

Yes, N. Queensland heat is so humid too.