Look out for your neighbours this summer in Woodingdean

*** This is some advice from Denise Bartup about looking out for your friends and neighbours in Woodingdean during this hot weather ***

In this hot weather please lend a helpin hand to your elderly or sick friends and neighbors to make sure they are all okay and keeping themselves hydrated in this hot weather.

Below is the government guidelines on staying safe in the sun. Most of it is fairly obvious stuff but its worth bearing in mind when checking on others who may not be so aware etc.

How to stay safe in the sun

Hot weather poses a real danger to health.

The very elderly and the seriously ill are most at risk but people at the peak of physical fitness can still succumb, particularly if they are under extreme physical exertion.

The main threat is dehydration - as we overheat we can soon lose more fluid than we take in.

The body can no longer cool itself and our core temperature, which should be a stable 37C, rises.

At 40C the cells inside the body begin to break down and the body starts to malfunction.

It even stops being able to sweat, leading to more overheating.

The heart rate and breathing rate speed up and the person may fit, hallucinate or become unconscious.

Heatstroke is a medical emergency that needs urgent treatment.

What should I do if someone has signs of heat exhaustion?

Get them to rest in a cool place, ideally a room with air conditioning. Give them plenty of water. Avoid alcohol or caffeine as this can increase levels of dehydration. Cool their skin with cold water. Use a shower or cold bath to cool them down or, if this is not possible, wet flannels and face cloths in water and apply to their skin. Loosen any unnecessary clothing and make sure that the person gets plenty of ventilation. Monitor their condition closely.

Here are some top tips for staying cool this summer

Stay inside during the hottest time of the day: late morning to mid afternoon.
Use sunscreen of factor 15 or above, applying it generously and topping up regularly.
When travelling, always carry a bottle of water.
Limit activities like housework and gardening to cooler times of the day.
Wear loose, light-weight, cotton clothing.
Drink lots of fluids and eat more cold foods, especially salads and fruit, as these contain a lot of water.

For more information please contact Denise Bartup at dbartup@aol.com