Staying well in hot weather

During the summer, many of us enjoy the warmer weather, but there are potential risks to our health, especially when temperatures climb higher than usual.

Who can be at risk? 

A heatwave can affect anyone, but the most vulnerable people are: 

  • Older people 
  • Those who live on their own or in a care home 
  • People who have a serious or long-term illness  
  • people who spend a lot of time outside or in hot places  
  • Those who may find it hard to keep cool, including – babies and the very young, people on multiple medications, people with long-term or serious conditions/illnesses, those with drug or alcohol addictions 

 

Tips for staying well in hot weather 

To help stay safe during the hot weather, you can follow these steps: 

  • Keep out of the sun at the hottest time of the day, between 11am and 3pm 
  • Plan physical activity, such as exercise or walking the dog, for cooler parts of the day like early morning or evening 
  • Keep homes cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms which face the sun 
  • If going outside, wear appropriate clothing such as a hat and sunglasses, seek shade, and use sunscreen 
  • Drink plenty of fluids and limit alcohol intake 
  • Check in on family, friends and neighbours who may be more at risk of becoming unwell, and provide support if needed 
  • Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, and what to do if someone is affected 

For more information on staying well in the hot weather please visit the NHS Sussex website here. 

 

Sign up for Heat Alerts  

heatAlert is a free service for the people of Sussex that alerts you by text, voicemail or email when there are heatwaves or very hot temperatures forecast in your area.  It provides information about when, where and how long the hot weather is forecast. 

The service runs from June to September. For more information and to register visit: https://heatalert.org.uk/ 

Have you recently used a health or care service in East Sussex?  

 

Please tell us your experiences of local health and care services via our Feedback Centre and let us know how this has been for you. 

 

Help and support with Health and Care 

 

If you need help or support related to health or care, then please contact our Information & Signposting Service via 

0333 101 4007 or enquiries@healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk