During the summer months, warmer weather can affect your health in many ways. This page contains information and advice for staying healthy this summer.
Hot weather and heatwaves
Although in the UK it doesn't happen too often, there are times when we experience heatwave conditions and hot weather. During these periods, there are some things that you can do to stay cool and well during the warmer weather:
Stay out of the heat
• Seek shade where possible.
• If you have to go out in the heat, walk in the shade, apply sun cream and wear a hat and light scarf.
• Avoid extreme physical exertion.
• Wear light, loose-fitting cotton clothes.
Keep cool
• Have plenty of cold drinks and avoid excess alcohol and caffeine as this can cause dehydration. If you work outdoors, consider keeping a reusable water bottle with you when out and about.
• Eat cold foods, particularly salads and fruit with a high-water content.
• Take a cool shower, bath, or body wash.
• Sprinkle water over the skin or clothing or keep a damp cloth on the back of your neck.
Keep your environment cool
• Keeping your living space cool is especially important for infants, the elderly or those with chronic health conditions or who can’t look after themselves.
• Place a thermometer in your main living room and bedroom to keep a check on the temperature.
• Keep windows that are exposed to the sun closed during the day, and open windows at night when the temperature has dropped.
• Close curtains during the hottest part of the day. However, care should be taken with metal blinds and dark curtains, as these can absorb heat – consider replacing or putting reflective material in-between them and the window space.
• Turn off non-essential lights and electrical equipment – they generate heat.
• Keep indoor plants and bowls of water in the house as evaporation helps cool the air.
• If possible, move into a cooler room, especially for sleeping.
• Electric fans may provide some relief if temperatures are below 35°C.
Repairs due to overheating
If overheating is linked to a housing issue, report it to us. For example:
• Broken or restricted-opening windows
• Faulty ventilation systems
• Communal ventilation problems
• Repairs that prevent proper ventilation
UPVC doors in hot weather - During hot weather, UPVC doors and windows sometimes seem a bit stiff and harder to open and close than usual. If you have experienced this, don't worry – it's quite normal for UPVC doors and windows to expand in high temperatures and direct sunlight. If you find this is happening in your home, all you need to do is simply wait until later in the day after the sun has set and the temperatures have dropped. Your door or window will now close and lock as normal!
You could also spray a little cold water or use a damp cloth on the outside of the frame to help it cool down and shrink back to normal more quickly, but the best thing is just to wait until the evening when it's cooler and it will go back to normal on its own.
Please don't call us if you experience this problem as we will also be unable to fix the issue until the door or window has cooled down.
Look out for others
• Keep an eye on ill or very young people and make sure they are able to keep cool.
• Ensure that babies, children or elderly people are not left alone in stationary cars
• Check on elderly, vulnerable or sick neighbours, family or friends every day during hot weather.
• Be alert and seek advice if someone is unwell or further help is needed.
If you or others feel unwell
• Try to get help if you feel dizzy, weak, anxious or have intense thirst and headache; move to a cool place as soon as possible and measure your body temperature.
• Drink some water to re-hydrate.
• Rest immediately in a cool place if you have painful muscular spasms (particularly in the legs, arms or abdomen, in many cases after sustained exercise during very hot weather), and drink oral rehydration solutions containing electrolytes.
• Medical attention is needed if heat cramps last more than one hour.
• Consult your doctor if you feel unusual symptoms or if symptoms persist.
• If you have a health problem keep medicines below 25 °C or in the refrigerator (read the storage instructions on the packaging)
• Seek medical advice if you are suffering from a chronic medical condition or taking multiple medications.
Visit the NHS website here for further tips and advice.
Heatwave hacks
During a heatwave, it can affect parts of our life we may not even think about, here are some of our top heatwave hacks to ensure you stay well:
• Road/ground temperatures can be up to 20° hotter than the air temperature, so be careful when walking on any patios etc. barefoot. Also, bear that in mind when deciding what time of day to take your pet for a walk.
• Artificial grass heats up really quickly in hot weather. Make sure to check it before allowing babies or pets to crawl, walk or play on it as it can burn skin.
• Playground equipment can get incredibly hot in the sun, so be sure to check it before allowing your children to go on.
You can find out more through the Beat the Heat webpage.
Staying Safe in the Sun
Throughout the summer do not forget to ‘slap’ on the sunscreen! We know that sun can be good for us, and provide us with vitamin D, but we also need to protect our skin throughout the year- especially in summer. Skin cancer is directly linked to over exposure of the UV rays from the sun, and overexposure to the sun can also cause us to go red or burn- which is both damaging to our health and a rather uncomfortable experience!
In the UK, the sun’s UV rays are the strongest between 11am and 3pm from early April until late September, so seeking shade during this time is important. At this time of year, the sun may be strong enough to damage your skin even on a cloudy day. Protect your skin by using at least a factor 30 sun cream, 4- or 5-star ultraviolet A (UVA) and reapplying regularly and take extra care with children ensuring they don't burn. If you want to learn more about the role sunscreen plays you can find a handy explainer on the British Skin Foundations website. The Cancer Research UK website also has lots of information and advice about protecting your skin.
Be ‘Tick Aware’
Ticks are small, spider-like creatures that feed on the blood of animals, including people. The number of ticks in the UK has been increasing in recent years. The size of the tick can vary, with a larva being as small as a tiny freckle, and full fed females similar in size to a baked bean. You could be exposed to ticks when outdoors, particularly in longer grass areas. Here are some top tips to avoiding ticks:
• Walk on clearly defined paths to avoid brushing against vegetation.
• Wear light-coloured clothes so ticks can be spotted and brushed off.
• Wear long trousers and long-sleeved tops to reduce direct skin exposure.
• Use repellents.
• Carry out a tick check on yourself, clothing, pets and others.
If you have been bitten by a tick, please see guidance from UKHSA:
• If you spot a tick, you must remove as soon as possible using a tick-removal tool or fine-tipped tweezers. These can be purchased in pharmacies.
• Fine-tipped tweezers are different to regular tweezers that might be used to remove eyebrow hair. Fine-tipped tweezers are very narrow and pointed at the tip and ensure that ticks are not squashed during removal.
• To remove a tick, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upwards slowly and firmly.
• You can remove ticks safely yourself or you can ask for assistance from others if needed.
Being bitten by a tick can put you at risk of catching Lyme disease. You should contact your GP or NHS 111 promptly if you begin to feel unwell with flu-like symptoms or develop a spreading circular red rash. Remember to tell them you were bitten by a tick or have recently spent time outdoors.
For more information, view the ‘Be Tick Aware’ poster.
Water safety
Open water can be dangerous, and we urge people to stay away from open water swimming, even in warmer weather. Even if they appear to be calm on the surface, lakes, rivers and reservoirs can actually be dangerous to swim in. Their currents are often unpredictable, hidden hazards, like weeds and sudden drops offs, can catch you off guard, and the rapid temperature change of entering cold water can be a real shock the body.
You can find more information about the risks here on the South Yorkshire Fire Rescue website. Make sure to have a chat with your children about the dangers of swimming in open water.
If you get into trouble in open water, you should float to live:
• Fight the instinct to thrash around and instead lean back, extend your arms and legs.
• Gently move around, if you need to, to try and stay afloat.
• Stay afloat until you feel calmer and can control your breathing.
• Only then, shout for help or try and swim to safety.
Find a full float to live demonstration video on the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue YouTube.
Hatfield Outdoor Activity Centre run open water swimming sessions in partnership with Swim Your Swim (SYS). Visit the Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust website for more information and how to book.