Dr Amir gives tips on how to stay safe during UK heatwave
The Met Office has issued the first heat alert of the year as parts of the UK are set to reach scorching 30 degrees.
A heat health warning has been now also upgraded from yellow to amber by the UK Health Security Agency.
The amber level means the impact of the weather is “likely to be felt across the whole health service, and at this level, we may begin to see some health impacts across the wider population, not just the most vulnerable”.
Speaking on ITV’s show Lorraine, Dr Amir Khan said: “We’ve got to be sensible and put this in perspective.
“30 degrees is not comfortable for some people but for other people, it can be pleasant, but we want you all to enjoy the heat safely.
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“The vulnerable groups that we should all be looking out for are people like older adults, children under five, those with chronic health conditions, also those with disabilities that rely on others to give them drinks.”
While all alerts are in place between 9am on Friday June 9 and 9am on Monday June 12, Dr Amir explained that temperatures are expected to peak between 11 am and 3pm on these days.
The TV doctor added that people should be especially careful around this time and take precautions.
He recommended drinking lots of water, wearing loose-fitting clothing and a protective factor for the skin.
“Everybody, no matter what your skin colour, should be wearing factor 30 in the sun and factor 50 for children and faired skin people,” Dr Amir added.
Apart from these three key tips for staying safe in the warm weather, the UKHSA also advised the following:
- Check on family, friends and neighbours, who may be at higher risk of becoming unwell, and if you are at higher risk, ask them to do the same for you
- Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and what to do if you or someone else has them
- Keep out of the sun at the hottest time of the day, between 11am and 3pm
- If you are going to do a physical activity (for example, exercise or walking the dog), plan to do these during times of the day when it is cooler such as the morning or evening
- Keep your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun
- If you do go outside, cover up with suitable clothing such as an appropriate hat and sunglasses, seek shade and apply sunscreen regularly
- Drink plenty of fluids and limit your alcohol intake.
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What are the symptoms of heat exhaustion?
Phil Day, Superintendent pharmacist at Pharmacy2U said: “Heat exhaustion is where the body starts to lose too much water and salt through sweating.”
The tell-tale signs of heat exhaustion to spot include:
- Tiredness
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Feeling sick or being sick
- Excessive sweating, skin becoming pale and clammy, or getting a heat rash (change in skin colour can be harder to see on brown and black skin)
- Cramps in the arms, legs and stomach
- Fast breathing or heartbeat
- High temperature
- Being very thirsty
- Weakness.
If you are experiencing the warning signs of heat exhaustion, you need to be cooled down and given fluids.
While the condition doesn’t usually warrant urgent medical help if you can cool down within 30 minutes, heat exhaustion that turned into heatstroke needs to be treated as “an emergency”, according to the NHS.
What are the symptoms of heatstroke?
Day added: “Heatstroke is where the body is no longer able to cool itself, and the body’s temperature becomes dangerously high.”
While heatstroke can cause similar signs to heat exhaustion, the following symptoms signal it’s time to call 999:
- Feeling unwell after 30 minutes of resting in a cool place, being cooled and drinking fluids
- Very high temperature
- Hot skin that’s not sweating and might look red (this can be harder to see on brown and black skin)
- Fast heartbeat
- Fast breathing or shortness of breath
- Confusion and lack of coordination
- Seizure or fit
- Loss of consciousness.
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