Press release – June 20 2017

2017/033

With the mercury rising and hot weather finally here, Herefordshire health bosses are reminding people to practice sun sense and look out for others, especially the vulnerable such as older people, young children and those with serious illnesses.

Top advice for being sun safe if outdoors for more than 20 minutes between 11am-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 and a wide brimmed hat. Wear light, loose-fitting cotton clothes. This should minimise the risk of sunburn
• Drink lots of cool drinks, avoiding alcohol
• Seek shade
• Look out for others

“It’s nice that the sun is shining and we can all enjoy a taste of summer – but it’s important to remember that rising heat does bring health risks for some,” said Emergency Department consultant Rachel McColm.

“We recommend that people keep an eye on the weather forecast for the coming days and if it gets hotter, consider avoiding the sun between 11am and 3pm, drink plenty of fluids and keep an eye out for children and older people.

“It’s important to make the most of the good weather but equally important that people don’t get too much sun or heat and make themselves ill.

“Sunscreen is vital – but it’s also important to make sure that this is reapplied regularly to ensure its effectiveness, particularly with children and those who may be in and out of water,” added Rachel.

For more information on sun safety and top tips for coping with hot weather, visit www.nhs.uk/heatwave

Ends

Note to Editors:

• Wye Valley NHS Trust is the provider health services across Herefordshire and beyond. The Trust exists to improve the wellbeing, independence and health of the people we serve. We are the leading provider of health care in Herefordshire.
• By working closely with our partners, we can make good our promise to deliver a quality of care we would want for ourselves, our families and our friends.
• With an estimated annual turnover of around £160 million, we employ around 2,700 plus staff. We aim to build new relationships between our staff, patients, service users and their carers with the wider community.For further information please contact:

For further information please contact:

John Burnett, Communication and Engagement Manager, Wye Valley NHS Trust: 01432 372928 or Amanda Millichip, Communications Officer 01432 355444 ext. 5105.