Walsall Health Chiefs hot advice for Walsall residents

Walsall Health Chiefs advise Walsall residents on how to be prepared for a heatwave during the summer months. While many people enjoy sunny weather, high temperatures can be dangerous for vulnerable groups such as the young, older people and those with serious illnesses. It can make heart and respiratory problems worse and in extreme cases, excess heat can lead to heatstroke, which can be fatal. The elderly and those with long-term illnesses are particularly vulnerable to the heat and we need to be aware, within families, in communities and across Walsall how we can minimise these risks when the summer temperatures rise.

Dr Paulette Myers, Director of Public Health NHS Walsall said today “Keeping cool in the summer heat is important to avoid serious or life-threatening illnesses. It is important that we, and those around us, know how to keep cool during a heatwave. Keeping indoor areas cool and providing plenty of cold water and ice will help prevent heat exhaustion or heatstroke.”

Helpful Tips for coping during a heatwave include:

- check up on friends, relatives and neighbours who may be less able to look after themselves;
- avoid going out between 11am - 3pm;
- wearing light, loose fitting cotton clothes;
- applying a high factor protective sun cream when out in the sun;
- drink cold drinks like water or fruit juice regularly and avoid tea, coffee and alcohol;
- stay tuned to the weather forecast and plan ahead with supplies;
- keep plenty of water to hand and stay in the shade where possible;
- taking a cool shower, bath or body wash;
- Residents are able to keep cool during a shading south and west-facing windows, shutting them during the day and opening them when it is cooler at night;
- replacing metal blinds with curtains with white linings to reflect heat outwards where possible; and
- Identify the coolest room in the house.

The NHS Heatwave Plan is updated each year to provide health and social care services with guidance in the event of a heatwave. A heat health watch system operates from 1 June to 15 September and is based on information provided by the Met Office. The Met Office may initiate alerts from readiness to emergency depending on how long the ‘threshold temperatures’ are maintained, within the West Midlands these are 30 degrees centigrade in the daytime and 15 degrees centigrade at night.

If anyone is affected by the heat, please call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or in an emergency 999.

ENDS

For media enquires call Helen Cook, Communications Manager, NHS Walsall on 01922 618356 or 07787 507939.

Notes to Editors

The Heatwave Plan, factsheets and leaflets can be downloaded via the link below.

Heatwave Plan for England: Protecting health and reducing harm from extreme heat and heatwaves