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With temperatures rising to 33C in the city this week (*wipes away upper-lip sweat*), London Mayor Sadiq Khan has activated an emergency weather response to help rough sleepers. He has also called on councils and the public to help people sleeping rough who could be battling severe dehydration, sunstroke and sunburn in the days ahead.
There are some little things you can do that make a big difference, including donating the following items directly to individuals or local charities:
- A bottle of water and food for hydration.
- Sun cream to help prevent skin damage.
- Hats and sunglasses to prevent sunstroke and avoid risk of eye damage.
- Hand-held fans to lower body temperature and prevent heatstroke.
- Baby wipes to help with sanitation and avoiding athlete’s foot
Sadiq Khan said: ‘This ongoing heatwave could be dangerous for anyone, but for people sleeping rough, there are additional risks. That is why City Hall is working with London’s boroughs to prioritise support for some of our most vulnerable Londoners.
‘Across the capital, we are taking action to assist those forced to sleep rough in these extremely high temperatures by enhancing local outreach services, ensuring that people who are sleeping rough have access to cool spaces and, where possible, providing suitable accommodation for those most vulnerable to the effects of heat.
‘As ever, London’s councils and charities will be working hard this week to support those sleeping rough in our city, and I thank them for their tireless efforts’
If you are really worried about someone you’ve spotted while out and about in the city, you can contact StreetLink on their behalf (with their permission, of course) and they will notify the local authorities for support.
Let’s look out for each other in this uncharacteristically hot London weather.
Now read about another app that you can use to help London’s homeless.