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News - Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire UK |
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| Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust |
| Keep Your Cool During the Heatwave |
| Date : - 30/06/2009 |
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NHS Milton Keynes is offering advice to people on keeping themselves cool during this week’s heatwave: the Met Office has predicted temperatures of up to 30 ºC during the day and 18 ºC at night for this week.
Dr Diane Gray, Deputy Director of Public Health said: “There are some simple actions we all can take to help keep our cool during the heatwave. Keep out of the sun during the hottest part of the day, between 11am and 3pm and make sure you wear sunscreen and a hat if you do have to go outside. Drink plenty of cold drinks, especially if you are outside or doing exercise. A nice cold beer might seem tempting, but alcohol should be avoided as it will dehydrate you.”
Sprinkling water over clothes and skin and keeping a cold damp cloth around your neck can also help keep you cool wherever you are.
While these temperatures could be uncomfortable for most of us, they could present real problems to the health of older people and those with long-term health conditions.
People at high risk of health problems during a heatwave include:
• Older people especially women over 75 years old, or those living on their own who are socially isolated, or in a care home.
• People with chronic and severe illness, including heart conditions, diabetes, respiratory or renal insufficiency, Parkinson’s disease or severe mental illness. Medications that potentially affect renal function, the body’s ability to sweat, thermoregulation or electrolyte balance can make this group more vulnerable to the effects of heat.
• People with an inability to adapt their behaviour to keep cool, such as having Alzheimer’s, a disability, being bed bound, too much alcohol, babies and the very young.
Dr Gray continued: “Be a good neighbour or friend and keep check on isolated, elderly or ill people every day during a heatwave. Be alert and call a doctor or social services if someone is unwell or further help is needed.”
NHS Milton Keynes would also like to make some suggestions to local people keep their homes cool this week:
• Place a thermometer in your main living room and bedroom to keep a check on the temperature.
• Keep windows that are exposed to the sun closed during the day, and open windows at night when the temperature has dropped.
• Care should be taken with metal blinds and dark curtains, as these can absorb heat – consider replacing or putting reflective material inbetween them and the window space.
• Keep indoor plants and bowls of water in the house as evaporation helps cool the air.
• If possible, move into a cooler room, especially for sleeping.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Further heatwave advice can be found through http://www.mkpreparing4emergencies.nhs.uk/default.asp?ContentID=2695
The national Heatwave plan can be found through http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_099015
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| Reference : - www.mkgeneral.nhs.uk |
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