Stay well during hot weather

Applying sun cream and covering up, taking shade, checking on elderly and vulnerable neighbours, keeping hydrated and cool and being careful around water are all recommended tips.

People are also reminded to stay alert and to continue to follow government guidance due to the coronavirus pandemic, applying social distancing when out and about.

Top tips are:

• Always supervise young children around water including buckets, paddling pools, fishponds, swimming pools and waterside locations such as beaches, lakes, rivers and canals.
• Invest in properly fitting, coast guard approved flotation devices and use them on children whenever they are near water.
•  Fence off pools and spas to reduce the risk of someone drowning
• Avoid burning by staying in shade during midday sun. Sunscreen of at least factor 15 to protect against UVB with at least a four star UVA protection should be regularly reapplied, especially before and after getting wet. Take extra care with children and ensure that exposed areas such as nose, ears, cheeks and top of feet are not missed and babies less than six month old should be kept out of direct sunlight. UV sunglasses, wide brimmed hats and protective clothing helps to reduce the risk of burning.
• Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. Breastfed babies do not need water as well as breastmilk but they may feed more than usual. Bottle fed babies can have cooled boiled water throughout the day.
• Find ways to keep cool such as staying in the shade, playing in a paddling pool and taking a cool bath before bedtime. Keep children’s bedrooms cool in the day by closing blinds or curtains and at night by using a fan to circulate air in the room.
•  Don’t swim in open water without being confident it is safe. Outdoor water can carry all sorts of risks.
• Check on elderly neighbours, friends and relatives and ensure they have plenty of food and drink in the house. Elderly people can be very susceptible to the dangers of hot weather.

Councillor Nicolas Barlow, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said:

The hot weather gives us all a welcome opportunity to meet family and friends in gardens and green spaces but it’s important to stay sun safe and follow government guidance relating to covid.

People should seek shade from the midday sun as much as possible, wear suntan lotion and cover up with t-shirts and hats when outside to avoid burning. We should all look out for elderly relatives and neighbours and take precautions to protect little ones who are playing outdoors.

I would also like to remind people of the hidden dangers of swimming in outdoor spaces, Open water is normally colder and deeper than swimming pools and can induce shock and panic in people unused to swimming in such waters.

People can find out more about Dudley Council’s summer wellness campaign on the council website