Hot weather advice – stay safe in the heat

With heat health alerts in place for the next few days across the South East, and temperatures exceeding 30°C, it is important to take extra care in the hot weather.

Hot weather can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke, particularly for older people, young children and those with existing health conditions.

Here are some top tips to keep yourself and others safe in the heat:

• Drink plenty of fluids and stay hydrated, limiting alcohol intake
• Avoid the sun at the hottest time of day, between 11am – 3pm
• If you are going to do a physical activity (e.g. exercise or walking the dog), plan to do these during times of day when it is cooler, such as early morning or later in the evening
• Keep your home cool by closing curtains and blinds
• Wear light, loose clothing and use sunscreen outdoors – at least factor 30 and a four or five-star UVB rating
• If you do go outside, also ensure that you cover up with a hat and sunglasses and stay in the shade where possible
• Check on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours, and if you are also higher risk, ask them to do the same for you
• Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them

Sun safety advice for parents

• Encourage children to play in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its strongest
• Keep babies under six months out of direct sunlight
• Children should wear a wide brimmed floppy hat to shade their face and neck
• Use loose cotton clothes, such as a long sleeved oversized T-shirt to protect their skin. Protect their shoulders and the back of their neck when they are playing, as these are the most common areas for sunburn
• Protect children’s eyes with sunglasses that meet the British Standards and carry the “CE” mark
• Sunscreen is not an alternative to covering up with suitable clothing and seeking shade, but it does offer additional protection. NICE
• Cover exposed parts of children’s skin with sunscreen, even on cloudy days. Use one that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 and is effective against UVA and UVB and reapply throughout the day, especially if they have been in water
• During hot weather babies and children may need extra fluids to avoid becoming dehydrated so watch for that too.

What happens if someone gets burnt?

Remember the cool, call, cover message:

Cool the burn with running cold tap water for 20 minutes and remove all clothing and jewellery (unless it is melted or firmly stuck to the wound).

Call for help for any burn larger than a 50p coin: 999, 111 or local GP for advice.

Cover with cling film while transferring to a hospital/GP surgery. The hospital/GP should apply a sterile dressing. Cling film should not be left on a burn for more than a few hours and only until wounds are assessed by health professionals.

For further information on how to beat the heat, please visit the GOV.UK website.