Hot Hot Hot!
It’s getting hot hot hot! Everyone is talking about the weather at the moment… the news, friends, colleagues… and me! I called my 84-year-old Grandma yesterday to check that she was doing okay in the heat and that she was getting enough liquid and shade; however, after doing the normal greetings, she launched into a list of questions about my son and making sure that he was doing okay in the heat.
It’s at times like this that being a part of a family, or a community, is extremely important. Working in communities around the country, I hear from our members stories of when they have met people who have no-one and who are suffering in isolation. These are the people that we should be checking on… making sure they are comfortable and have everything they need to survive the hot weather.
As a reminder, this is the information that Public Health England have given us for this weather:
- try to keep out of the sun between 11am and 3pm
- if you have to go out in the heat, walk in the shade, apply sunscreen and wear a hat
- avoid physical exertion
- wear light, loose fitting cotton clothes
- drink plenty of cold drinks
- if you have a health problem, keep medicines below 25 °C or in the refrigerator
- look out for others especially vulnerable groups such as the elderly, young children and babies and those with serious illnesses
- never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children or animals
Remember that it can get uncomfortably hot indoors too. Try to keep your bedroom and living space cool, by closing the curtains on windows that receive the sun and opening your windows at cooler times of the day and overnight when safe to do so. Turn off non-essential lights and electrical items as these generate heat.
