RESIDENTS are being urged to keep their cool as temperatures soar during this week's predicted heatwave.

The Met Office issued a heatwave warning to parts of England on Monday, with Dorset said to be at 90 per cent risk of heatwave conditions from now until Thursday.

While the warning will prompt thousands of sun-worshippers to head straight for the beach, local health professionals are reminding people that excessive heat can prove fatal, particularly to elderly residents and children.

Dorset and Somerset Health Community's advice includes:

  • Avoid going out in the hottest part of the day between 11am and 3pm.
  • Keep strenuous outdoor activity like sport, DIY or gardening for cooler parts of the day.
  • If you must go out, stay in the shade. Wear a hat and light, loose clothes.
  • Apply plenty of sun cream with a minimum factor of 15.
  • Close curtains in rooms that get a lot of sun.
  • Take cool showers or baths and splash yourself several times a day with cold water.
  • Drink water and fruit juice but avoid tea, coffee and alcohol.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, muscle weakness or cramps, pale skin and a high temperature.

Tourism chiefs have also advised beach-goers to take care in the sun, after more than 60,000 people flocked to Bournemouth at the weekend.

Beverley Ware, of Bournemouth Tourism, said: "There is barely a space on the beach and that's great to see but we would urge people to stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day and make sure you use plenty of sun tan lotion."

The high temperatures temporarily grounded the Bournemouth Eye Balloon yesterday.

The balloon in Bournemouth Gardens was unable to take off for an hour because the sun caused the helium pressure to increase.