East Lothian is within the area covered by a Met Office Amber weather warning for extreme heat in place until 23.59 on Tuesday July.
People are being encouraged to stay hydrated and look out for those who are vulnerable - such as older people, those with underlying conditions and those living alone may struggle to keep cool and hydrated.
For guidance people should:
- stay indoors or shaded when the sun is at its hottest (11am - 3pm)
- drink plenty of cool fluids throughout the day
- eat cold foods with high water content such as salads and fruit
- take a cool shower, bath or body wash
- sprinkle water over skin or clothing, or keep a damp cloth on the back of your neck
- avoid alcohol – which can leave you dehydrated
- avoid extreme physical exertion
The Met Office has warned that some people are likely to experience some adverse health effects including sunburn or heat exhaustion (dehydration, nausea, fatigue) and other heat related illnesses.
If someone is showing signs of heat exhaustion – headache, feeling confused or dizzy, rapid pulse or fast breathing, body cramps (particularly in the arms, legs and stomach), feeling sick or vomiting – they need to be shaded from the sun and cooled down. Heat exhaustion is not normally serious if the person is treated within 30 minutes and symptoms begin to improve.
Ensure that babies, children or older people are not left alone in stationary cars or other closed spaces. Animals should not be transported in extreme temperatures.
The Met Office is also warning of an increased risk of risk of wildfires and disruption to transport - please check before you travel.
The risk of safety incidents and drownings can increase in hot weather and people should be aware of the dangers and use supervised beaches and pools when possible – follow the Water Safety Code and in an emergency call 999.
Further information is available online:
Keep yourself safe in hot weather (ready.scot)
UK weather warnings - Met Office
All of Edinburgh, the Lothians, the Scottish Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife, Dundee, Perth, Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and eastern parts of Lanarkshire are included in the Amber warning.
While these areas will see more extreme temperatures, it is important to note that there will be high temperatures across much of the country, especially up the east coast to the Moray Firth. Red warnings are in place for other areas of the UK.