Most people think that winter is the most dangerous time of year for people who are sleeping rough, but the reality may come as a surprise: summer can be even more deadly.

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For most of us, coping during a heatwave means drastically switching up our routine. We stick to the shade, station ourselves next to a fan, and have plenty of cold showers and icy drinks. Even with access to all these things, staying cool is still a challenge.

Now, imagine it’s 33°C. Alex is desperate to get out of the sun, but has nowhere else to go. He’s exhausted and thirsty but getting something to drink means knowing where to find free water. The pharmacy four miles away has the medication he needs to manage his heart condition, but now all the buses are cancelled and there is no way of getting there before it shuts.

Usually, he would go and sit in the library for a bit of respite from the elements, but as it’s so dangerously hot today, it has had to close. The heat is relentless, and Alex has a thumping headache. With every passing hour, he feels more disorientated.

For many of us, a heatwave is uncomfortable. For someone sleeping rough, it can be fatal.

St Mungo’s Outreach teams have........

© LBC