Warm weather advice during ‘mini heatwave’ in Surrey | News centre

As the Southeast basks in the warmth of a mini-heatwave, NHS leaders are reminding people that they may need to take action to stay safe in the heat.

Temperatures are set to reach highs of 24-27 degrees, and while many people enjoy the warmer days, hot weather can cause some to become unwell through overheating (becoming uncomfortably hot), dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Professor Andrew Rhodes, Joint Chief Medical Officer at NHS Surrey Heartlands, said:

We are expecting to see very warm temperatures over the next few days and I want to take this opportunity to remind people to take the appropriate precautions to ensure they are keeping well in the heat.

We know hot weather can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, lung problems and other diseases. Older people and young children are also more vulnerable to becoming unwell from the hot weather because their bodies are less able to regulate temperature.  Those with underlying medical issues are also more likely to suffer from the effects of hot weather.

There are some simple measures people can take to keep well including staying out of the sun at the hottest times of the day (between 11am and 3pm), applying sun cream and wearing clothing to protect skin from UV rays, and most importantly, keeping hydrated.

People who are at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell include:

• older people aged 65 years and over (note change from previous guidance of 75 years of age and above)
• babies and young children aged 5 years and under
• people with underlying health conditions particularly heart problems, breathing problems, dementia, diabetes, kidney disease, Parkinson’s disease, or mobility problems
• people on certain medications
• people with serious mental health problems
• people who are already ill and dehydrated (for example from diarrhoea and vomiting)
• people who experience alcohol or drug dependence
• people who are physically active and spend a lot of time outside such as runners, cyclists and walkers
• people who work in jobs that require manual labour or extensive time outside
• people experiencing homelessness, including rough sleepers and those who are unable to make adaptations to their living accommodation such as sofa surfers or living in hostels.
• people who live alone and may be unable to care for themselves

If you have any health concerns, please use NHS 111 online as your first point of contact for non-emergency medical advice.

With the coming weekend being a May Day bank holiday weekend (3-5 May), health services will be under pressure and A&E departments and the 111 phone service will be busy. As a result, people should use NHS 111 online as their first point of contact for non-emergency medical advice.

NHS 111 online is not available for children under 5. People looking for urgent medical help for under 5s should use the 111 phone line.

NHS 111 online