Seven tips to stay well in the warm weather from north east London GPs

People in north east London are being urged to follow health advice to ensure they stay safe and well amid forecasts for hot weather in the capital this weekend and early next week.

With the Met Office predicting that temperatures are likely rise above 30C in some parts of southern England on Sunday and Monday, people are being warned that weather conditions could pose a risk to those who are particularly vulnerable.

GPs are advising people to take to enjoy the sun safely by following these seven steps:

1. Keep your living space cool by closing windows during the day and opening them at night when the temperature outside has gone down.
2. Cool yourself down by having cold food and drinks and putting cool water on your skin or clothes.
3. If you need to be outside during the middle of the day (11am-3pm), try to stay in the shade where possible.
4. Make sure you’re wearing a high factor sunscreen and reapply it throughout the day – children should wear factor 50.
5. Drink plenty of water and try to avoid alcohol as it will dehydrate you.
6. Avoid doing too much exercise that will make you sweat.
7. Keep a stock of over-the counter medicines such as rehydration sachets, anti-histamines, paracetamol, ibuprofen and hay fever tablets for those who need them.

Dr Jagan John, local GP and board member for NHS North East London, said: “Many people will be looking forward to the warm weather but there are a range of risks that come with high temperatures. By taking a few common-sense precautions you can make the most of sunshine and enjoy yourself while staying healthy.

“Keeping the body cool and drinking plenty of fluids is vitally important, as well as dressing sensibly. Using high-factor sun screen and limiting the amount of time you spend in the sun will also help avoid the risk of sunburn and help to prevent skin cancer.

“There are certain groups of people in particular who may be more vulnerable to heat so please look out for elderly relatives and neighbours, those who have a pre-existing health condition and people living on their own.”

Regardless of your age or health, over-exposing yourself to the sun can cause heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Symptoms can include dizziness, headache, tiredness, or cramps.

For more information on how to protect your health in hot weather, including advice on treating hayfever symptoms, visit the NHS website (www.nhs.uk).