In total, 1,872 respondents are included in the survey analysis, and 95% (n = 1,787) reported being in England during the June 2017 level 3 heat-health alert period. Overall, 76% of respondents were classified as ‘not vulnerable’ (group 1), 16% as ‘potentially vulnerable’ (group 2) and 8% as ‘vulnerable’ (group 3) to hot weather. Table 2 presents respondents’ characteristics. This section compares survey results between these three groups, supplemented by findings from the focus groups.
Table 2
overview of survey respondents characteristics (weighted %)
|
BSA England population estimate
|
All respondents
(n = 1872)
|
Not vulnerable
(n = 1422)
|
Potentially vulnerable (n = 307)
|
Vulnerable
(n = 143)
|
Age
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
18–24
|
11
|
9
|
11
|
7
|
-
|
25–34
|
17
|
17
|
19
|
15
|
-
|
35–44
|
17
|
17
|
20
|
15
|
-
|
45–54
|
18
|
17
|
19
|
17
|
-
|
55–64
|
14
|
16
|
16
|
26
|
-
|
65+
|
22
|
28
|
15
|
20
|
100
|
Gender
|
|
|
|
|
|
Male
|
48
|
48
|
47
|
47
|
56
|
Female
|
52
|
52
|
53
|
53
|
44
|
Ethnic group
|
|
|
|
|
|
White
|
Not available
|
87
|
85
|
88
|
98
|
Other
|
Not available
|
13
|
15
|
12
|
2
|
Highest educational attainment
|
|
|
|
|
|
Degree or equivalent
|
36
|
33
|
36
|
24
|
22
|
A level or equivalent
|
19
|
22
|
25
|
17
|
14
|
O level/CSE or equivalent
|
26
|
22
|
22
|
28
|
7
|
Foreign or other
|
3
|
8
|
7
|
9
|
18
|
No qualifications
|
17
|
15
|
10
|
23
|
39
|
Region
|
|
|
|
|
|
North East
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
6
|
2
|
North West
|
13
|
13
|
14
|
11
|
11
|
Yorkshire & the Humber
|
10
|
10
|
9
|
10
|
15
|
East Midlands
|
9
|
8
|
8
|
10
|
10
|
West Midlands
|
10
|
10
|
9
|
10
|
14
|
East of England
|
11
|
11
|
11
|
13
|
12
|
London
|
16
|
15
|
16
|
15
|
5
|
South East
|
16
|
16
|
17
|
16
|
16
|
South West
|
10
|
11
|
10
|
9
|
16
|
Household type
|
|
|
|
|
|
Single person household
|
17
|
17
|
12
|
26
|
37
|
Lone parent
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
0
|
2 adults (no children)
|
36
|
35
|
34
|
27
|
57
|
2 adults (with children)
|
21
|
23
|
26
|
20
|
0
|
3 + adults (no children)
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
19
|
5
|
3 + adults (with children)
|
7
|
6
|
7
|
5
|
0
|
Social grade
|
|
|
|
|
|
Managerial/professional
|
38
|
41
|
43
|
30
|
37
|
Intermediate
|
12
|
14
|
15
|
12
|
11
|
Small employers/own account workers
|
9
|
8
|
7
|
10
|
8
|
Lower supervisory/technical
|
8
|
8
|
7
|
14
|
10
|
Semi-routine/routine
|
28
|
29
|
27
|
32
|
34
|
Attitudes to hot weather
The majority of respondents reported they loved hot weather (57.7%), while less than a third identified hot weather as a risk to their health (31.1%) (Table 3). Even among the potentially vulnerable and vulnerable groups, fewer than half identified hot weather as a risk to their health, compared with half saying they loved hot weather.
Table 3
Attitudes, knowledge, and protective behaviours by type of vulnerable group
|
All
|
Not vulnerable
|
Potentially vulnerable
|
Vulnerable
|
Attitudes to hot weather [% of respondents that strongly agree or agree (95%CI)]
|
I love hot weather
|
57.7 (54.5–60.8)
|
60.4 (56.8–63.8)
|
49.9 (42.0-57.7)
|
48.7 (38.0-59.6)
|
Hot weather is a risk to my health
|
31.1 (28.3–34.1)
|
26.9 (23.9–30.0)
|
45.3 (37.6–53.4)
|
41.8 (31.0-53.5)
|
Effectiveness of heat protection behaviours as [% of respondents rated behaviour very or completely effective (95%CI)]
|
Staying out of sun 11am-3 pm
|
66.2 (63.0-69.1)
|
67.3 (63.7–70.6)
|
58.8 (50.7–66.5)
|
71.2 (60.3–80.1)
|
Drinking cool fluids
|
72.5 (69.6–75.3)
|
73.6 (70.3–76.8)
|
73.3 (65.6–79.8)
|
60.8 (49.0-71.5)
|
Covering skin with clothing
|
66.4 (63.2–69.4)
|
65.9 (62.2–69.4)
|
68.0 (59.8–75.2)
|
67.6 (55.7–77.6)
|
Limiting physical activity
|
64.2 (60.9–67.2)
|
64.5 (60.8–68.0)
|
62.3 (54.1–69.8)
|
64.8 (52.6–75.4)
|
Use electric fan
|
38.0 (34.9–41.2)
|
35.4 (31.9–39.0)
|
51.6 (43.8–59.4)
|
34.0 (24.1–45.6)
|
Close curtains on exposed windows
|
47.6 (44.5–50.8)
|
47.0 (43.4–50.6)
|
44.3 (36.7–52.2)
|
60.5 (49.2–70.7)
|
Close exposed windows during day
|
20.1 (17.6–22.8)
|
19.7 (16.9–22.8)
|
18.7 (12.7–26.6)
|
27.0 (19.0-36.9)
|
Open windows at night
|
63.1 (60.0-66.1)
|
63.9 (60.4–67.3)
|
58.7 (50.6–66.3)
|
65.1 (54.6–74.3)
|
Avoid alcohol
|
45.2 (42.0-48.4)
|
45.6 (42.0-49.3)
|
45.2 (37.5–53.2)
|
41.2 (31.1–52.2)
|
Experienced adverse health effects as a result of hot weather or heat [% of respondents (95%CI)]
|
None
|
47.2 (44.1–50.3)
|
47.1 (43.5–50.7)
|
37.8 (30.7–45.4)
|
68.3 (56.7–78.0)
|
Dehydration/intense thirst
|
20.2 (17.6–23.0)
|
19.8 (17.0–23.0)
|
27.0 (19.6–35.8)
|
8.7 (4.8–15.1)
|
Sunburn
|
18.2 (15.6–21.0)
|
18.7 (16.0-21.7)
|
21.5 (14.4–30.8)
|
6.3 (1.3–24.8)
|
Heat rash/red and dry skin
|
14.0 (11.7–16.8)
|
12.5 (10.1–15.3)
|
22.3 (15.4–31.1)
|
11.1 (4.5–24.9)
|
Headaches
|
25.8 (23.0-28.8)
|
27.1 (23.8–30.7)
|
29.3 (22.8–36.8)
|
5.9 (3.0-11.4)
|
Dizziness
|
9.1 (7.3–11.2)
|
6.8 (5.1-9.0)
|
17.5 (12.5–23.9)
|
12.9 (5.6–26.7)
|
Nausea or vomiting
|
2.9 (1.8–4.5)
|
2.0 (1.2–3.3)
|
5.3 (2.2–11.9)
|
6.1 (1.2–25.5)
|
Muscle weakness or cramps
|
6.4 (4.9–8.4)
|
4.2 (3.0-5.8)
|
16.8 (10.9–25.1)
|
6.2 (2.9–12.6)
|
A high temperature
|
6.5 (4.8–8.6)
|
5.9 (4.1–8.4)
|
8.2 (5.2–12.8)
|
8.3 (2.5–24.3)
|
Irritability
|
21.3 (18.7–24.1)
|
19.2 (16.5–22.1)
|
33.5 (25.9–42.0)
|
15.2 (7.6–28.1)
|
A need to contact health services (e.g., a GP, an ambulance)
|
1.4 (0.6–2.9)
|
0.9 (0.3–2.3)
|
1.0 (0.3-4.0)
|
6.7 (1.6–24.4)
|
Mean number of adverse health effects
|
1.3 (0.1)
|
1.2 (0.1)
|
1.8 (1.5)
|
1.0 (0.3)
|
Base (unweighted): All respondents
|
1872
|
1422
|
307
|
143
|
Heard and acted on health advice [% respondents (95%CI)]
|
Not heard advice
|
49.0 (45.8–52.2)
|
49.7 (46.0-53.5)
|
51.6 (43.6–59.5)
|
36.1 (26.4–47.1)
|
Heard advice but did not change behaviour
|
29.1 (26.3–32.0)
|
29.7 (26.5–33.1)
|
22.8 (17.4–29.4)
|
37.1 (26.3–49.4)
|
Heard advice and changed behaviour
|
21.9 (19.3–24.8)
|
20.6 (17.6–23.9)
|
25.6 (19.2–33.4)
|
26.8 (18.5–37.1)
|
Protective behaviours taken [% respondents always or often took protective behaviours during 2017 heat alert period (95%CI)]
|
Staying out of sun 11am-3 pm
|
46.6 (43.4–49.8)
|
44.8 (41.2–48.5)
|
48.6 (40.7–56.6)
|
59.2 (47.9–68.7)
|
Drinking cool fluids
|
87.3 (84.9–89.4)
|
88.6 (85.9–90.8)
|
84.8 (77.6–90.0)
|
80.6 (71.3–87.4)
|
Covering skin with clothing
|
50.9 (47.7–54.2)
|
49.3 (45.6–53.0)
|
51.7 (43.6–59.6)
|
65.0 (54.2–74.5)
|
Limiting physical activity
|
56.3 (53.1–59.6)
|
54.5 (50.7–58.2)
|
57.5 (49.2–65.4)
|
71.8 (60.4–80.9)
|
Use electric fan
|
39.3 (36.1–42.6)
|
38.6 (35.0-42.3)
|
46.3 (38.4–54.4)
|
31.0 (20.8–43.5)
|
Close curtains on exposed windows
|
47.7 (44.5–51.0)
|
46.5 (42.9–50.3)
|
49.6 (41.6–57.6)
|
55.3 (43.9–66.2)
|
Close exposed windows during day
|
34.9 (31.9–38.0)
|
33.2 (29.9–36.7)
|
34.3 (26.8–42.8)
|
52.4 (41.3–63.3)
|
Open windows at night
|
87.1 (84.5–89.3)
|
88.2 (85.1–90.8)
|
86.2 (80.3–90.5)
|
78.4 (69.1–85.5)
|
Avoid alcohol
|
51.2 (47.9–54.4)
|
47.7 (44.0-51.5)
|
61.1 (52.6–68.9)
|
62.8 (52.2–72.3)
|
Mean number of protective behaviours always/often taken (sd)
|
5.0 (2.1)
|
4.9 (2.1)
|
5.2 (2.0)
|
5.6 (2.2)
|
Base (unweighted): In England during level 3 heat alert
|
1787
|
1356
|
295
|
136
|
This attitude to risk was also found in the focus groups, where only a minority of participants said that they felt personally at-risk during heatwaves. In contrast with survey respondents, only a small number of focus group participants voiced positive attitudes towards hot weather, though any negativity expressed largely related to humidity rather than temperature. Participants were, on the whole, nonchalant about heatwaves, viewing them as a rare occurrence in England. “We haven’t really had a summer” was a common response.
Views on the effectiveness of protective behaviours
The proportion of respondents who said the various heat protection measures were very/completely effective was relatively low, although this varied by group (Table 3). The not vulnerable and potentially vulnerable groups most frequently reported drinking cool fluids as very/completely effective (73.6% and 73.3%, respectively). Among the vulnerable group, staying out of the sun between 11am and 3 pm was most frequently reported as effective (71.2%), and was also the behaviour most often mentioned by focus group participants. The behaviour least often considered very/completely effective, across all groups, was closing windows exposed to direct sunlight, ranging from 18.7% among potentially vulnerable to 27.0% among the vulnerable. Compared to other groups, the potentially vulnerable were the least likely to rate most behaviours as very/completely effective.
Protective behaviours taken during the level 3 heat-health alert
While about half of all respondents said they were aware of hot weather-related health publicity or advice during the level 3 heat-health alert period (51.0%), this increased to about two-thirds in the vulnerable group (63.9%) (Table 3). However, even among the vulnerable, only 26.8% reported changing their behaviour as a result of hearing this advice.
Across all three groups, the heat protection measures respondents most frequently reported always/often undertaking were drinking cool fluids (87.3%) and opening windows at night (87.1%) (Table 3). The measures that the fewest respondents reported always/often taking were closing windows exposed to direct sunlight (34.9%) and using an electric fan (39.3%). Vulnerable respondents were the most likely to report taking six of the protective behaviours but were less likely to report using an electric fan, opening windows at night and drinking cool fluids. Although we cannot infer cause and effect in our survey, respondents in the vulnerable group were also the least likely to report any adverse health effects from hot weather in 2017: only 31.7% reported one or more health effects compared to 52.9% of the not vulnerable group and 62.2% of the potentially vulnerable group (Table 3).
Results of the multivariable logistic regression analysis focusing on potentially vulnerable and vulnerable groups combined are shown in Table 4. Although the small sample size (n = 450) limits the power to detect statistically significant results, there was strong evidence that respondents in these two groups were more likely to undertake a protective behaviour if they believed it to be completely/very effective: the odds ranged from more than twice as great for avoiding the sun (adjusted OR 2.6 [95%CI 1.5–4.5]) to more than nine times greater for closing exposed windows during the day (adjusted OR 9.6 [95%CI 4.1–22.5]). Those who reported being in bad/very bad health were more likely to avoid the sun (adjusted OR 2.1 [95%CI 1.0-4.3]), use an electric fan (adjusted OR 3.4 [95%CI 1.5–7.5]), close exposed windows (adjusted OR 2.2 [95%CI 1.0-4.8]) and avoid alcohol (adjusted OR 2.8 [95%CI 1.2–6.3]). Except for avoiding the sun, there was no difference between age groups. Having heard heat protection advice was only associated with closing exposed windows during the day (adjusted OR 1.7 [95%CI 1.0–3.0]) and opening windows at night (adjusted OR 2.2 [95%CI 1.1–4.5]), after controlling for other variables.
Table 4
Multivariable regression analysis examining heat protection behaviours always/often taken by potentially vulnerable and vulnerable groups (n = 450)
|
Avoid sun
OR (95%CI)
|
Drink cool fluids
OR (95%CI)
|
Covers skin
OR (95%CI)
|
Limits physical activity
OR (95%CI)
|
Electric fan
OR (95%CI)
|
Close curtain on exposed windows day
OR (95%CI)
|
Close exposed windows day
OR (95%CI)
|
Open windows night
OR (95%CI)
|
Avoid alcohol
OR (95%CI)
|
Age
|
18–34
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
35–54
|
1.7 (0.7–4.2)
|
0.4 (0.0-5.5)
|
0.4 (0.1–1.1)
|
0.5 (0.2–1.6)
|
0.2 (0.1–0.7)
|
2.2 (0.8–6.2)
|
0.7 (0.3–1.9)
|
1.6 (0.4–6.2)
|
0.9 (0.3–2.8)
|
55–74
|
2.5 (1.0-6.4)
|
0.4 (0.0-5.8)
|
1.0 (0.3–2.7)
|
0.6 (0.2–1.9)
|
0.3 (0.1–0.9)
|
3.2 (1.1–9.1)
|
1.3 (0.5–3.6)
|
0.8 (0.2–2.9)
|
1.0 (0.3-3.0)
|
75 and over
|
4.2 (1.2–14.2)
|
0.3 (0.0-4.6)
|
0.8 (0.2–2.6)
|
2.2 (0.6-8.0)
|
0.4 (0.1–1.8)
|
1.7 (0.5–5.9)
|
1.4 (0.4–4.6)
|
0.3 (0.1–1.2)
|
2.0 (0.5–7.5)
|
Health
|
Good/very good
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
Fair
|
1.8 (0.8–3.8)
|
0.8 (0.3–2.3)
|
1.2 (0.6–2.4)
|
1.3 (0.6–2.8)
|
3.0 (1.3–6.8)
|
1.4 (0.7–2.9)
|
2.1 (1.0-4.5)
|
1.3 (0.5–3.3)
|
2.3 (1.1–5.2)
|
Bad/very bad
|
2.1 (1.0-4.3)
|
0.6 (0.2–1.4)
|
0.8 (0.4–1.7)
|
1.4 (0.6-3.0)
|
3.4 (1.5–7.5)
|
1.5 (0.7–3.2)
|
2.2 (1.0-4.8)
|
0.8 (0.3–1.9)
|
2.8 (1.2–6.3)
|
LLSI
|
No
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
Does not affect day-to-day life
|
0.4 (0.1-1.0)
|
1.2 (0.4–3.6)
|
0.7 (0.3-2.0)
|
0.7 (0.3–1.7)
|
0.5 (0.2–1.5)
|
0.8 (0.3-2.0)
|
0.3 (0.1–0.7)
|
0.8 (0.2–2.4)
|
1.2 (0.5-3.0)
|
Affects day-to-day life
|
0.8 (0.3–1.9)
|
0.9 (0.4–2.5)
|
0.4 (0.2-1.0)
|
0.9 (0.4–2.1)
|
0.6 (0.3–1.6)
|
0.7 (0.3–1.7)
|
0.8 (0.3–2.1)
|
0.5 (0.2–1.4)
|
1.5 (0.6–3.7)
|
Household type
|
Living with someone
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
Living alone
|
0.9 (0.5–1.7)
|
1.0 (0.5–2.3)
|
0.9 (0.5–1.7)
|
0.7 (0.4–1.4)
|
0.4 (0.2–0.8)
|
1.1 (0.6–2.2)
|
1.2 (0.7–2.4)
|
0.5 (0.2-1.0)
|
0.4 (0.2–0.8)
|
Heard alert advice
|
Did not hear advice
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
Heard advice
|
1.3 (0.8–2.3)
|
1.9 (0.9–3.7)
|
1.1 (0.6–1.9)
|
1.0 (0.6–1.9)
|
1.3 (0.7–2.5)
|
1.0 (0.6–1.8)
|
1.7 (1.0–3.0)
|
2.2 (1.1–4.5)
|
1.4 (0.8–2.4)
|
Effective
|
Not/slightly/somewhat
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
Completely/very
|
2.6 (1.5–4.5)
|
6.2 (2.8–13.7)
|
2.8 (1.5–5.1)
|
3.7 (2.0–7.0)
|
4.9 (2.7–9.1)
|
6.5 (3.7–11.4)
|
9.6 (4.1–22.5)
|
3.7 (1.6–8.4)
|
4.3 (2.4–7.8)
|
Hot weather is a risk to health
|
Disagree/strongly disagree
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
Neutral
|
1.3 (0.6–2.6)
|
1.6 (0.6–4.7)
|
1.0 (0.5–1.9)
|
1.0 (0.4–2.2)
|
1.4 (0.6–3.2)
|
2.2 (1.0-4.7)
|
2.5 (1.2–5.3)
|
0.5 (0.2–1.2)
|
1.4 (0.7–2.8)
|
Agree/strongly agree
|
1.9 (1.0-3.6)
|
1.4 (0.5–3.9)
|
1.3 (0.6–2.7)
|
2.1 (1.0-4.3)
|
1.3 (0.6–2.7)
|
1.3 (0.6–2.7)
|
1.4 (0.6-3.0)
|
0.7 (0.3–1.6)
|
1.0 (0.5-2.0)
|
Love hot weather
|
Disagree/strongly disagree
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
Neutral
|
0.8 (0.4–1.8)
|
1.3 (0.4–4.2)
|
1.0 (0.4–2.3)
|
0.5 (0.2–1.1)
|
0.4 (0.2-1.0)
|
0.4 (0.1–0.9)
|
1.2 (0.5–2.9)
|
0.4 (0.1-1.0)
|
0.9 (0.4-2.0)
|
Agree/strongly agree
|
0.8 (0.4–1.6)
|
1.2 (0.4–3.6)
|
0.4 (0.2–0.9)
|
0.6 (0.3–1.3)
|
0.9 (0.4–1.9)
|
0.4 (0.2–0.8)
|
1.1 (0.5–2.5)
|
0.6 (0.2–1.7)
|
0.5 (0.2–1.2)
|
Sex
|
Male
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
Female
|
1.9 (1.1–3.3)
|
1.8 (0.9–3.8)
|
0.8 (0.5–1.5)
|
1.8 (0.9–3.4)
|
1.1 (0.6-2.0)
|
1.3 (0.7–2.3)
|
0.9 (0.5–1.6)
|
1.2 (0.5–2.6)
|
1.9 (1.1–3.3)
|
Ethnicity
|
White
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
Other
|
2.1 (0.7–6.6)
|
0.4 (0.1–1.5)
|
0.3 (0.1–1.1)
|
1.7 (0.6–5.1)
|
1.1 (0.3–3.9)
|
1.3 (0.3–5.1)
|
1.2 (0.4–4.1)
|
0.7 (0.1–3.7)
|
4.4 (1.1–17.2)
|
Education
|
Degree/higher
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
A-level/equivalent
|
0.4 (0.2–1.1)
|
1.6 (0.5–4.8)
|
0.6 (0.3–1.3)
|
0.3 (0.1–0.7)
|
1.9 (0.7–4.8)
|
0.7 (0.3–1.6)
|
0.7 (0.3–1.8)
|
1.7 (0.3-8.0)
|
0.5 (0.2–1.2)
|
Below A-level/none
|
0.5 (0.2–1.1)
|
1.4 (0.6–3.4)
|
0.7 (0.3–1.5)
|
0.6 (0.2–1.3)
|
1.2 (0.5–2.8)
|
0.5 (0.2–1.1)
|
1.0 (0.4–2.3)
|
0.5 (0.2–1.5)
|
1.1 (0.5–2.3)
|
Other
|
0.8 (0.3–2.3)
|
4.9 (1.0-23.7)
|
1.2 (0.4–3.9)
|
0.7 (0.2–2.3)
|
2.8 (1.1–7.2)
|
0.9 (0.4–2.4)
|
1.5 (0.4–4.9)
|
1.5 (0.3–7.5)
|
1.2 (0.4–3.6)
|
Monthly household income
|
Less than £1,200
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
£1,201 - £2,200
|
1.1 (0.6–2.3)
|
0.8 (0.3-2.0)
|
0.9 (0.5–1.8)
|
1.3 (0.6–2.9)
|
0.6 (0.3–1.3)
|
1.0 (0.5–2.1)
|
0.9 (0.5–1.9)
|
0.7 (0.3–1.7)
|
1.7 (0.8–3.7)
|
£2,201 - £3,700
|
1.5 (0.7–3.4)
|
1.8 (0.5–6.2)
|
1.7 (0.8–3.6)
|
1.9 (0.9–4.2)
|
1.2 (0.5–2.8)
|
0.8 (0.4–1.9)
|
0.6 (0.2–1.3)
|
1.3 (0.5–3.5)
|
0.7 (0.3–1.7)
|
£3,701 or more
|
0.4 (0.1-1.0)
|
5.0 (1.1–22.1)
|
2.2 (0.8-6.0)
|
3.0 (1.0-9.2)
|
2.8 (1.1–7.2)
|
0.6 (0.2–1.6)
|
1.4 (0.5–3.9)
|
6.8 (1.0–47.0)
|
0.4 (0.2–1.2)
|
Region
|
North
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
Midlands
|
1.3 (0.6–2.6)
|
1.9 (0.5–7.4)
|
0.8 (0.4–1.8)
|
1.1 (0.5–2.5)
|
2.2 (1.0-4.9)
|
1.5 (0.7–3.4)
|
0.6 (0.3–1.3)
|
0.8 (0.3-2.0)
|
1.1 (0.5–2.4)
|
East
|
0.8 (0.3–1.9)
|
0.6 (0.2–1.7)
|
0.6 (0.3–1.6)
|
1.5 (0.6–4.1)
|
1.9 (0.7–5.2)
|
1.4 (0.6–3.4)
|
0.6 (0.2–1.7)
|
0.7 (0.2–2.1)
|
1.3 (0.5–3.1)
|
London & South East
|
0.9 (0.4-2.0)
|
1.4 (0.5–3.8)
|
0.7 (0.3–1.4)
|
0.9 (0.4–2.1)
|
2.1 (1.0-4.4)
|
2.4 (1.1–5.3)
|
0.7 (0.3–1.5)
|
0.8 (0.3–2.2)
|
0.8 (0.4–1.6)
|
South
|
1.8 (0.7–4.8)
|
1.0 (0.3–3.7)
|
0.7 (0.3-2.0)
|
1.0 (0.4–2.7)
|
1.0 (0.3–3.5)
|
1.2 (0.5–3.1)
|
0.4 (0.1–1.3)
|
22.6 (2.1-248.1)
|
|
Location
|
Rural
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
Urban
|
0.9 (0.4–1.7)
|
1.5 (0.7–3.3)
|
0.9 (0.4–1.9)
|
1.0 (0.5–1.9)
|
1.4 (0.6–3.5)
|
0.8 (0.4–1.7)
|
1.9 (0.9–3.9)
|
1.3 (0.5-3.0)
|
1.5 (0.7–3.1)
|
Bold text p < 0.05. |
The focus group findings provide context to explaining behaviours taken, specifically those the survey identified as being less likely to be taken by vulnerable groups. Participants believed they had good knowledge of actions to take in a heatwave; it was, for them, “common sense’”, and few felt they belonged to any special risk category. Most said they stayed out of the sun and covered their skin. For many this was to avoid harmful effects of ultra-violet rays, as, according to some participants, ageing “thinned the skin”, thereby making it more susceptible to sun damage. Other measures, such as opening windows at night, drinking extra fluids or using a fan, were inconsistently applied or absent. Risk awareness, security, and costs were identified as key reasons.
A strong theme was safety and security: most participants kept their windows closed during hot nights for fear of intruders, opting to endure any short-lived discomfort and appearing unaware of any added risks to their health. Cost, as well as noise, were identified as reasons for not employing electric fans, particularly at night. Others spoke of their lack of knowledge of some protective measures, such as closing and shading sun-facing windows during the day, or not being aware of raised indoor temperatures, expressing surprise when visitors told them “it’s really hot in here”. Additionally, even though all agreed that maintaining hydration was important in hot weather, some admitted that they did not drink enough, yet were unconcerned about it as they “did not often feel thirsty”.