Keeping well in summer

It’s important to be aware of the risks associated with being out in the sun for prolonged periods.

Whatever your age, the best way to enjoy the sun safely and protect your skin from sunburn is to use a combination of shade, clothing and sunscreen.  Children and teenagers might need a reminder or a helping hand, but setting a good example yourself is a great way to help them learn and get into good habits. 

• Try to spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm
• Cover up with a t-shirt, hat and sunglasses
• Use a sunscreen with a protection level of at least SPF30 and 4 stars.  Make sure you use it generously and regularly re-apply it, especially after being in the water
• Take extra care to protect children and babies, their skin is much more sensitive than adult skin.

For more information on staying sun safe visit the NHS website.

After a cold winter it’s nice when the weather warms up, but when it’s too hot there are health risks, so it’s important to take steps to protect yourself and those around you.

• Try to stay out of the sun and find shade as much as possible, if you're vulnerable to the effects of summer heat, especially between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its hottest.
• Drink plenty of cold drinks, such as water and fruit juice, and try to avoid tea, coffee and alcohol.
• Cover up with sunscreen, hat and loose, cool clothing when you're heading outdoors.
• Have cool showers or baths and regularly splash yourself with cool water.
• Plan ahead to make sure you have enough supplies, such as food, water and any medications you may need.
• Shut your windows and pull down the shades when it's hot outside.  If it's safe, open them for ventilation when it's cooler.  You can also keep your rooms cool by using shades or reflective materials outside the windows or by hanging light-coloured curtains, which are kept closed (metallic blinds and dark curtains can make a room hotter).
• Identify the coolest room in the house, where you can retreat to when it's hot outside.
• Check on friends, relatives and neighbours, especially if they're more vulnerable and less able to look after themselves.

  
  For more information about who is most vulnerable in a heatwave, and how to stay safe and well in hot weather, visit the NHS website.

Ticks are most active in the UK from March to October, with most bites commonly reported during May and June so it’s important to be tick aware!

Ticks can carry pathogens which cause disease, such as Lyme disease and, more rarely tick-borne encephalitis.

Ticks live outdoors and are particularly common in wooded or grassy areas, but it’s important to note that ticks can sometimes be found in urban gardens.

Reduce the risk of being bitten by a tick by wearing long sleeves and trousers, keep to clearly markers pathways, regularly check for any ticks.

If you find a tick on your body it’s important to safely remove the tick.

For more information about how to remove a tick visit the NHS website

If you’re planning to travel abroad during the summer holidays it’s important to check ahead to ensure that you’re up to date with the NHS routine vaccination schedule, especially MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), polio, hepatitis, meningitis, and tetanus. These infections can be more common in some countries.

Check whether any additional vaccines are needed for the countries, or regions you are travelling to. Visit the government website for foreign travel advice.

Farm visits can be a fun day out for children and families. However it’s important to be aware that farm animals can carry germs and to take steps to avoid picking up illness or infection on your farm trip!

Vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women or young children need to take particular care as infections acquired from animals can be harmful to them.

• Wash hands well with running water and liquid soap after touching animals, or surfaces which animals may have touched. Supervise children’s handwashing to ensure it is thorough.
• Wash your face with soap or water if you have been licked or if something has splashed on your face.
• Only drink or eat in designated eating areas on the farm (don’t eat anything that has dropped on the floor).
• Avoid wearing open-toed shoes on the farm.
• Wash clothing ideally at 60 degree if you have been in contact with the animals.
• Be aware that hand sanitiser will not remove the type of bugs found on farms.
• Follow rules and guidelines to ensure your safety and the wellbeing of the animals.

Barbecues can be a lovely way to relax and enjoy the summer sunshine, but they can turn into a nightmare if you get food poisoning!  To keep everyone safe when firing up the barbecue, remember the four C's of food hygiene:

Chilling
You may need to keep some food in the fridge to help slow down the growth of harmful bacteria, keeping it fresh and safe for longer.  This is especially important when you’re eating outdoors in warm weather.

Cleaning
Make sure you clean everything properly to get rid of bacteria on hands, equipment and surfaces to help to stop harmful bacteria from spreading onto your food.

Cooking
The biggest food poisoning risk when barbecuing comes from raw or under cooked meat.  Make sure you cook your food at the right temperature and for the correct length of time to kill any harmful bacteria.

Cross-contamination
This is most likely to happen when raw food touches or drips onto ready to eat food, utensils or surfaces, so make sure you keep everything separate and clean.
To find out more, visit the Food Standards Agency website or take a look at our food safety page.

Washing fruit and vegetables
Most people are aware of the importance of handling meat safely, but many consider the risk of food poisoning from vegetables to be low.  To ensure you're storing, washing and preparing your fruit and vegetables correctly, take a look at the NHS website.