Summer Health

During the summer months, warmer weather can affect your health in many ways. This page contains information and advice for staying healthy this summer.

Hot Weather and Heatwaves

Although in the UK it doesn't happen too often, there are times when we experience heatwave conditions and hot weather. During these periods, there are some things that you can do to stay cool and well during the warmer weather:

Stay out of the heat

  • Seek shade where possible
  • If you have to go out in the heat, walk in the shade, apply sun cream and wear a hat and light scarf
  • Avoid extreme physical exertion
  • Wear light, loose-fitting cotton clothes.

Keep cool

  • Have plenty of cold drinks, and avoid excess alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks
  • Eat cold foods, particularly salads and fruit with a high water content
  • Take a cool shower, bath or body wash
  • Sprinkle water over the skin or clothing, or keep a damp cloth on the back of your neck.

Keep your environment cool

  • Keeping your living space cool is especially important for infants, the elderly or those with chronic health conditions or who can’t look after themselves 
  • Place a thermometer in your main living room and bedroom to keep a check on the temperature 
  • Keep windows that are exposed to the sun closed during the day, and open windows at night when the temperature has dropped
  • Close curtains that receive morning or afternoon sun. However, care should be taken with metal blinds and dark curtains, as these can absorb heat – consider replacing or putting reflective material in-between them and the window space 
  • Turn off non-essential lights and electrical equipment – they generate heat 
  • Keep indoor plants and bowls of water in the house as evaporation helps cool the air 
  • If possible, move into a cooler room, especially for sleeping 
  • Electric fans may provide some relief, if temperatures are below 35°C.

Look out for others

  • Keep an eye on ill or very young people and make sure they are able to keep cool
  • Ensure that babies, children or elderly people are not left alone in stationary cars
  • Check on elderly or sick neighbours, family or friends every day during hot weather
  • Be alert and seek advice if someone is unwell or further help is needed.

If you or others feel unwell...

  • Try to get help if you feel dizzy, weak, anxious or have intense thirst and headache; move to a cool place as soon as possible and measure your body temperature;
  • Drink some water to re-hydrate
  • Rest immediately in a cool place if you have painful muscular spasms (particularly in the legs, arms or abdomen, in many cases after sustained exercise during very hot weather), and drink oral rehydration solutions containing electrolytes
  • Medical attention is needed if heat cramps last more than one hour
  • Consult your doctor if you feel unusual symptoms or if symptoms persist.
  • If you have a health problem keep medicines below 25 °C or in the refrigerator (read the storage instructions on the packaging)
  • Seek medical advice if you are suffering from a chronic medical condition or taking multiple medications.

Heatwave Hacks

During a heatwave, it can effect parts of our life we may not even think about, here are some of our top heatwave hacks to ensure you stay well:

  • Make sure to run the hosepipe through and ensure the water is cold before you spray it at anyone. Standing water in the hosepipe can reach boiling temperatures when in the sun.
  • Road/ground temperatures can be up to 20° hotter than the air temperature, so be careful when walking on any patios etc. barefoot. Also, bear that in mind when deciding what time of day to take your pet for a walk.
  • Artificial grass heats up really quickly in hot weather. Make sure to check it before allowing babies or pets to crawl, walk or play on it; as it can burn skin.
  • Playground equipment can get incredibly hot in the sun, so be sure to check it before allowing your children to go on.

You can find out more through the Beat the Heat webpage.

Staying Safe in the Sun

Throughout the summer don’t forget to ‘slap’ on the sunscreen! We know that sun can be good for us, and provide us wit vitamin D, but we also need to protect our skin throughout the year- especially in summer. Skin cancer is directly linked to over exposure of the UV rays from the sun, and overexposure to the sun can also cause us to go red or burn- which is both damaging to our health and a rather uncomfortable experience!

In the UK, the sun’s UV rays are the strongest between 11am and 3pm from early April until late September, so sheeking shade during this time is important. At this time of year, the sun may be strong enough to damage your skin even on a cloudy day. Protect your skin by using at least a factor 30 sun cream and reapplying regularly, and take extra care with children ensuring they don't burn. If you want to learn more about the role sunscreen plays you can find a handy explainer on the British Skin Foundations website. The Cancer Research UK Website also has lots of information and advice about protecting your skin.

Be ‘Tick Aware’

Ticks are small, spider-like creatures that feed on the blood of animals, including people. The size of the tick can vary, with a larva being as small as a tiny freckle, and full fed females similar in size to a baked bean. You could be exposed to ticks when outdoors, particularly in longer grass areas. Here are some top tips to avoiding ticks:

  • Walk on clearly defined paths to avoid brushing against vegetation
  • Wear light-coloured clothes so ticks can be spotted and brushed off
  • Use repellents
  • Carry out a tick check.

You should contact your GP or NHS 111 promptly if you begin to feel unwell with flu-like symptoms or develop a spreading circular red rash. Remember to tell them you were bitten by a tick or have recently spent time outdoors.

For more information, download the ‘Be Tick Aware’ leaflet in the downloads and resources section of this page.

Water safety

Open water can be dangerous and we urge people to stay away from open water swimming, even in warmer weather. You can find lots of resources on 'being water aware' through the South Yorkshire Fire Rescue website. Make sure to have a chat with your children about the dangers of swimming in open water.

Advice for Schools

Specific guidance and advice for schools and early years settings is available from the UK Health Security Agency.

In the event of extreme heat and the absolute priority of keeping our children safe and as cool as possible, we would encourage schools to relax their uniform policy and where appropriate allow pupils to attend school in PE kit or tops and shorts rather than normal uniform until cooler weather returns. 

Visit our Education Hub to find further information on how to stay safe during the heatwave.

Advice for Care Settings

Detailed specific advice, guidance and resources are available for residential care settings from the UK Health Security Agency.

 

 

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Last updated: 17 September 2024 15:58:47

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