THE Met Office have sent out a heatwave alert and people are being urged to look out for themselves and vulnerable residents by taking steps towards staying cool.
Although welcomed by most, hot weather can cause a real danger to health – particularly to the very elderly and the seriously ill.
People with existing medical conditions, young children and babies are also potentially at risk during a warm spell.
The highest temperatures are predicted between Thursday and Saturday this week, June 27-29 and these temperatures could be high enough to have a significant effect on health.
Experts say exposure in these excessive temperatures can bring on heat-related illnesses, so it is important to try and prevent these by protecting yourself through necessary measures.
Being a good neighbour and checking in on relatives and friends who may be vulnerable to the heat can help everyone stay healthy.
The advice is:
Try to keep out of the sun between 11am to 3pm
Wear UV sunglasses, preferably wraparound, to reduce UV exposure to the eyes
Walk in the shade
Apply sunscreen of at least SPF15 with UVA protection
Wear a hat and light scarf
Wear light, loose-fitting cotton clothes
Drink lots of cool drinks
Look out for others, especially vulnerable groups such as elderly people, young children and babies and those with serious illnesses
Never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children or animals.
For more information on how to enjoy the sun safely, visit Cancer Research’s SunSmart website.
