HEALTH officials in Warwickshire have issued advice on how to keep cool during the heatwave.
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for hot weather in the West Midlands, as temperatures rise above 30ºC.
With hot weather a health hazard, Public Health Warwickshire is advising on how to enjoy the heat sensibly.
Coun Margaret Bell, Warwickshire County Council’s spokeswoman for adult social care and health, said: “Throughout hot spells, susceptible groups, such as older people, the very young and people with long term conditions, feel the severe effects of heat more than others and it’s long been known that death rates increase in heat waves.
“The greatest advice is to relax, stay cool, drink lots of cold liquids and, if you can, keep an eye on individuals you know to be at risk.
“It is important to recognise the health dangers that extreme heat can bring and know the signs of heat-related illnesses to try and avert these.
“Be a good neighbour, check in on friends, family and neighbours who may be vulnerable to the heat and make certain you protect yourself by taking all the required actions.”
Public Health Warwickshire has issued the following guidance to try and keep people well in the sun and heat:
- Try to keep out of the sun between 11am and 3pm
- Wear UV sunglasses, if possible wraparound, to lessen UV exposure to the eyes
- Walk in the shade
- Put on sunscreen of at least SPF15, or preferably SPF50, with UVA protection
- Wear a hat and light scarf
- Wear light, loose-fitting cotton clothes
- Drink lots of cool drinks
- Look out for others particularly susceptible groups such as older people, young children and babies and individuals with serious illnesses
- At no time leave anybody in a shut, parked vehicle, particularly infants, young children or animals.
The hot weather is forecast to continue into next week.
Visit https://tinyurl.com/4tvbccak for more information about the Met Office’s Yellow Heat Warning.
Visit https://tinyurl.com/36xts69w for more information on Heat Health Alerts.
