From a rain warning, straight to one on heat. Happy summer!
SOUTH EAST HEAT-HEALTH ALERT LATEST – a yellow alert will be in effect between 5pm, Thursday 18 July 2024 , and 11pm, Saturday 20 July 2024.
Many of us enjoy the summer sun.
But hot weather – when it does arrive – can cause health issues for anyone, particularly for vulnerable people such as the elderly, very young and people with medical conditions.
So when temperatures climb, take commonsense steps to keep yourself and your loved ones safe and well; and look out for friends and neighbours in need of support.
If you can, make sure they have enough food, water and any medication they regularly have to take and aren’t left to sit in direct sun.
Other top tips for staying safe and well in hot weather include:
- keeping up to date with the forecast so you can be prepared
- drinking plenty of fluid, and avoiding excess alcohol, to stay hydrated
- doing intense outdoor exercise in the cooler parts of the day, when UV rays are weakest
- regularly using sunscreen above SPF30 and wearing 100% UV protection sunglasses to protect yourself from strong sun.
- carrying your asthma inhaler, if you use one, with you because hot weather and thunderstorms can make lung conditions worse. If you notice you need to use your inhaler more frequently because of the weather, please talk to your pharmacist, contact your GP or NHS 111.
There's also lots of things you can do to keep cool at home, including:
- closing curtains on rooms that face the sun
- keeping windows in direct sun shut during the day and opening them at night when the air is cooler outside
- turning off any electrical equipment and lights you aren’t using so they don’t kick out unnecessary heat
Source: Kent County Council