Why you should be cautious of using a frozen hot water bottle to cool you down in bed
Lots of people are struggling to sleep with the heat
As a nation we complain when it's too hot and complain when it's too cold, but for some reason, 30°C in the UK and Ireland just doesn't feel the same as when you are sunning yourself abroad.
And perhaps the worst thing about the hot weather is trying to sleep in it! With a number of 'tropical nights' in the country already in August, meaning the temperature does not fall under 20 °C at night, it's been very uncomfortable during the night.
Well, as we all struggle to sleep in the humidity, people across the country have been sharing some very handy top tips to keep yourself cool, including filling a hot water bottle up and putting it in the freezer.
One lady who tried the hack shared her finding to a Facebook group, writing, 'If you're feeling the heat, fill a hot water bottle no more than 2/3 full of cold water and pop it in the freezer for a few hours.
'It stays cold for hours especially at night. Bliss!' (sic)
However, as explained by Dr Sarah Jarvis on this morning's episode of Good Morning Britain, people are being urged to be cautious, with Dr Jarvis reminding viewers, "Never put ice directly onto your skin because that can cause ice burns.”
If you are thinking of trying out the handy tip, make sure you put the hot water bottle's cover back on, or wrap it in a towel or sheet to avoid direct contact with your skin.
Check out these handy top tips to help you sleep during a heatwave:
1) Cool your sheets
While it would be great to put all of your bedding in the fridge or freezer before you go to bed, a cool over-sheet or cool pillow cases will help. Stick them in a plastic bag and then in your fridge or freezer for around 10 minutes before you go to bed and they will cool you down.
2) Sleep alone
Even if you normally share your bed with your significant other, body heat can make a hot night even hotter. Maybe it's time for one of you to sleep in the spare room for the night.
3) Tepid shower
Don't be fooled into having a cold shower, a tepid shower is better at lowering your body temperature. If you have a cold shower your body can overcompensate and make you even hotter!
4) Avoid alcohol
Although it's very tempting to enjoy a cold alcoholic drink when it comes to bedtime you might regret it as alcohol dehydrates.
5) DIY air conditioning
When a simple fan isn't enough to cool you down, try filling a pan or bowl with ice cubes and putting that in front of the fan. The fan's breeze will then create a cooling mist.
6) Use sheets instead of a duvet
Get rid of your winter duvet and maybe even your summer duvet, swapping it for a thin sheet to keep you cool.
7) Cool your feet
Dipping your feet in a bucket of cold water before you go to sleep can help cool down your body, but make sure you don't spill it or get water all over your bed!
8) Windows and curtains
Make sure you keep the windows and curtains closed during the day to keep the heat out and then open them when it's cooler. This will help circulate the cooler air.
9) Drink plenty of water
Aim to drink at least two litres of fluids a day if you can, stay away from caffeine and alcohol.
10) Cool your pulse points
Put a cold flannel on your wrist and neck to cool down your body.
11) Cold water bottle
We've all heard of a hot water bottle, why not do the same with cold water when it's hot weather. Alternatively you could use an icepack in towel. However, remember not to put ice directly onto your skin!
12) Fan cross flow
If you have a fan or blow heater then put it on the cool setting and create a cross flow. Point it so that the warm air at the back is pushed out of an open window, that way it will keep your room cool.
With temperatures soaring up and down the country, a number of flood warnings are now in place for parts of North West England and Scotland.
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