Paddling pool plan to keep things cool at care home

The deputy manager of a care home in Coventry has said open windows in the morning and evening, fans and even paddling pools will be used to keep residents cool during the expected heatwave.

The Abbey Park home in Whitley caters for up to 84 residents with dementia and other conditions.

Claire Wilkin, deputy manager, says it is not just the residents who will be using the pools.

"We've ordered lots of paddling pools, so we'll be having water fights with the staff as well, keeping them cool. But it is going to be very, very hot."

The Met Office has issued a red heat warning for the West Midlands, including Coventry and Warwickshire, as well as London, the South East and South Wales from 09:00 BST on 24 June to 21:00 BST on 25 June.

Temperatures are forecast to reach 34C on Wednesday and 35C on Thursday, before starting to fall.

Wilkin said that installing air conditioning units was not really a sensible consideration for care homes.

"It's not something care homes use due to infection control, the risk of spreading and contaminating," she said. "It's just not the way forward. So [keeping cool] is very difficult."

As for the water fights, she said: "Hopefully, I won't be lined up, but we've ordered water guns. It could be quite entertaining.

"We're just trying to keep everyone's spirits high."

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