Temperatures are back on the rise, with highs of 39 degrees possible next week, so it's no surprise that many of us are on the lookout for ways to keep cool as the sun blazes16:25, 03 Jul 2026Updated 16:25, 03 Jul 2026Just as we've cooled down from last week's heatwave, another one's on its way. Temperatures of up to 39 degrees could be seen in some areas next week, just two weeks after June's heat records were broken three days in a row.‌According to the Met Office, Thursday, July 9, will see the peak of the latest heatwave, with Londoners, as well as people in neighbouring Berkshire, set to see the worst of it. Net Weather maps also show highs of 38 degrees expected in Hertfordshire and Gloucestershire, while other areas of the south west will hit the high 30s. So it's no surprise that many of us are on the lookout for ways to keep cool.‌The most obvious solution might be to break out an electric fan - but one doctor has warned this might not actually be the best idea. Explaining in a video on TikTok, US doctor Trisha Pasricha said: "Here's something that you're not gonna believe at first, but it might save your life, or your grandparent's life.‌"In a heatwave, electric fans do not cool you down. All they do is trick your brain into believing that you're cooler."I know you're saying, 'wait a minute, I've used fans my whole life lady'. And, yes, you do feel cooler if it's less than about 90 degrees (32 degrees Celsius) outside."She continued: "Fans stimulate the thermal sensors on our skin, which sends a signal up to our brain saying 'look, we're cooling down'. And that actually tells your brain to say, 'okay, we don't need to sweat as hard'. That is a big mistake, because fans are not actually cooling your core. Even though you feel better, you're actually approaching heat exhaustion.‌"The solution is water. Get yourself one of those little handheld fans that, like, sprays mist all over you. Yeah, it might ruin your hair. Who cares? This is a heatwave. Put an icy towel around your neck."If you don't have air conditioning, or your parents don't have air conditioning, or your grandparents don't have air conditioning, tell them."Writing in the caption, Dr Pasricha added: "Fans feel amazing in the heat. But here’s a shocker: in temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (around 32 Celsius), fans don’t actually lower your body temperature. They just trick the thermal sensors on your skin into signalling to your brain that everything‘s fine – while your core keeps overheating.‌"The (solution is) simple: wet, your skin first. A spray bottle, a damp shirt, a sponge can give your fan something to actually evaporate. It’s the evaporation of water from your skin that will help you cool most - and keep in mind, of course, the humidity of your environment will affect this!Content cannot be displayed without consent"Research shows that a fan plus wet skin can reduce heat strain even in temperatures up to 116 degrees Fahrenheit (46 Celsius). It also cuts dehydration by about 50 per cent."Article continues belowThe UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned the upcoming hot spell could have an impact across health and social care services, after many services declared critical incidents during the previous heatwave.Tony Wisson, Met Office deputy chief forecaster, said: "Toward the weekend, high pressure will continue to build in across most of the UK as it extends from the Azores. This will lead to more settled, warm or very warm conditions for many, especially across England and Wales, though some rain may still affect the far north."The forecast for this weekend suggests that temperatures could approach high 20 degrees across parts of England, perhaps 30 degrees in parts of the southeast, with values of mid to high 20 degrees in Wales. Although a return to heatwave conditions is looking increasingly likely for some areas, the likelihood of such extreme high temperatures or high levels of humidity as last week is currently low."