There’s lots you can do to stay well and protect yourself and others throughout spring and summer.
Sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer. Sunburn does not just happen on holiday. You can burn in the UK, even when it’s cloudy.
- There’s no safe or healthy way to get a tan. A tan does not protect your skin from the sun’s harmful effects.
- Aim to strike a balance between protecting yourself from the sun and getting enough vitamin D from sunlight.
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Spend time in the shade when the sun is strongest. In the UK, this is between 11.00 am and 3.00 pm from March to October.
There's more information about about sunscreen and sun safety on the NHS website.
It is important to follow the advice and be prepared for hot weather, particularly if you are higher risk of becoming seriously unwell. Listen to the news and check your local weather forecast so that you know when hot weather is expected. You can also look out for advice on what to do if services such as power, water supplies and transport are likely to be affected.
There are things you can do to prevent yourself from overheating when the weather is hot. If you do get too hot, it is important to give your body a break from the heat and take actions that will help cool you down. You should also:
- protect yourself from the sun
- limit strenuous physical activity
- avoid hot closed spaces
- keep your home cool
- stay safe when swimming
See the following ‘beat the heat’ guidance from GOV.UK for more information.
Drink fluids regularly throughout the day especially if you are physically active. You should drink enough that your pee is a pale straw colour.
Water and diluted squash or lower fat milks are good choices. Fruit juice, smoothies and soft drinks can be high in sugar which dehydrates the body. Limit the amount of fruit juice or smoothies that you drink, and swap sugary soft drinks for diet, sugar-free or no added sugar varieties.
If you are going out, take a refillable bottle filled with water. Take extra water for journeys on public transport or by car.
Alcohol has a dehydrating effect on the body, so it is a good idea to choose alcohol-free options, or alternate alcoholic drinks with a glass of water.
The NHS website has this information about the signs and symptoms of dehydration.
If you're travelling away from home this spring or summer, preparing in advance is a good idea.
If you or someone you care for uses prescription medicines, make sure you have enough of them to last while you're away from home. GP practices usually need 48 hours’ notice to organise a repeat prescription. You can also order your repeat prescriptions through the NHS App which is available on the App Store and on Google Play.
Make sure that your medicines cabinet is well stocked and that the contents are not out of date. It's also a good idea to check that your first aid kit contains all the items you may need. You'll find more information about what to include in your medicines cabinet and first aid kit on the Together We Can self-care page.
Ask for help from experts at your local pharmacy. Pharmacists are trained medical professionals and can often help you with advice and over the counter medicine for minor ailments and illnesses.
Hay fever is usually worse between late March and September, especially when it’s warm, humid and windy. This is when the pollen count is at its highest. Symptoms of hay fever include:
- sneezing and coughing
- a runny or blocked nose
- itchy, red or watery eyes
- itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
- loss of smell
- pain around your temples and forehead
- headache
- earache
- feeling tired
If you have asthma, you might also:
- have a tight feeling in your chest
- be short of breath
- wheeze and cough
Hay fever can last for weeks or months, unlike a cold, which usually goes away after one to two weeks. There is currently no cure for hay fever and you cannot prevent it. But you can do things to ease your symptoms when the pollen count is high. The NHS has this guidance on treating hay fever yourself.
People eligible for their spring booster include:
- adults aged 75 years and over
- residents in a care home for older adults
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those aged six months old and over who have a weakened immune system
There's more information on the NHS website here about the COVID-19 booster vaccine and who can get it.
You can book, cancel or change a COVID-19 vaccination appointment here.
Insect bites and stings will usually cause a red, swollen lump to develop on the skin. This may be painful and in some cases can be very itchy. The symptoms will normally improve within a few hours or days, although sometimes they can last a little longer.
Some people may have a mild allergic reaction when a larger area of skin around the bite or sting becomes swollen, red and painful. This should pass within a week.
Occasionally, a severe allergic reaction can occur, causing symptoms such as breathing difficulties, dizziness and a swollen face or mouth. This requires immediate medical treatment.
To treat an insect bite or sting:
- Remove the sting or tick if it’s still in the skin and wash the affected area with soap and water.
- Apply a cold compress (such as a flannel or cloth cooled with cold water) or an ice pack to any swelling for at least ten minutes. Avoid traditional home remedies such as vinegar and bicarbonate of soda as they are unlikely to help.
- Raise or elevate the affected area if possible as this can help reduce swelling.
- Try not to scratch the area to reduce the risk of infection
The pain, swelling and itchiness can sometimes last a few days. Ask your pharmacist about medicines that can help, such as painkillers, creams for itching and antihistamines.
There's more information about insect bites and stings on the NHS website.
Children are most likely to have an asthma flare-up when they start the new school year but using their preventer inhaler every day as prescribed can help stop this happening.
Please see this back to school support for parents and carers of children with asthma for further guidance.
Scarlet fever is caused by the bacteria Group A streptococcus (Group A strep). It is usually a mild illness but it is highly infectious and it's much more common in children than in adults. NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) states that, in the UK most cases occur between December and May, peaking in March or April.
It's important that children with scarlet fever are assessed by their GP so they can be started on antibiotics. This will reduce the chances of their infection becoming more severe and stops the infection spreading to others. Look out for a rash, fever, sort throat and a red tongue (strawberry tongue).
There's more information about scarlet fever on the West Yorkshire Healthier Together website.