Summer is upon on us. We have collated a few safety messages below to help keep you and your family safe and healthy during hot weather. Please click on each section to view the information.
Babies and young children can become ill during very hot weather. Their health can be seriously affected by:
dehydration
heat exhaustion and heatstroke
sunburn
Try these tips for keeping your child happy and healthy in the heat.
Sun Safety
Keep your baby cool and protect them from the sun.
Babies less than 6 months old should be kept out of direct sunlight. Their skin contains too little melanin, which is the pigment that gives skin, hair and eyes their colour, and provides some protection from the sun.
Older babies should also be kept out of the sun as much as possible, particularly in the summer and between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its strongest. If you go out when it's hot, attach a parasol or sunshade to your baby's pushchair to keep them out of direct sunlight.
Apply a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 to your baby's skin. Make sure the product also protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Many brands produce sunscreen specifically for babies and young children, as these products are less likely to contain additives that might irritate the skin. Apply the suncream regularly, particularly if your child is in and out of the sea or paddling pool.
Make sure your child wears a sunhat with a wide brim or a long flap at the back to protect their head and neck from the sun.
Take extra care to protect babies and children. Their skin is much more sensitive than adult skin, and damage caused by repeated exposure to sunlight could lead to skin cancer developing in later life.
Children aged under 6 months should be kept out of direct strong sunlight.
From March to October in the UK, children should:
cover up with suitable clothing
spend time in the shade, particularly from 11am to 3pm
wear at least SPF30 sunscreen
Apply sunscreen to areas not protected by clothing, such as the face, ears, feet and backs of hands.
Every year people drown both at home and on holiday because they don’t take simple precautions, so reaching people with water safety messages is vital.
Please help to avoid another tragic summer this year by spreading the following water safety advice far and wide.
Look out for lifeguards - If you’re looking for a place to cool off always find a lifeguarded swimming site.
Don’t go too far - Always swim parallel to the shore, that way you’re never too far away from it.
Bring a friend - Always bring a friend when you go swimming so if anything goes wrong you’ve got someone there to help.
It’s colder than it looks - Water at open water and inland sites is often much colder than it looks, cold water can affect your ability to swim and self-rescue.
It’s stronger than it looks - Currents in the water can be very strong. If you find yourself caught in a rip current – don’t swim against it – you’ll tire yourself out. Swim with the current and call for help.
The animation below tells the story of a young girl who is missing out from having fun in the water as she doesn’t feel confident - up steps an RLSS UK Lifeguard who tells her all about her local Lifesaving club. She soon becomes a Rookie Lifeguard – watch to find out more!
YouTube videos by 'RLSS UK'
Video by 'Cheshire Fire and Rescue'
Barbecue Safety Tips
To avoid injuries or damage to property follow these simple precautions:
Never leave a barbecue unattended.
Ensure the barbecue is on a flat site, well away from a shed, trees or shrubs.
Keep children, garden games and pets well away from the cooking area.
Keep a bucket of water or sand nearby for emergencies.
Ensure the barbecue is cool before attempting to move it.
Insect bites or stings are not usually serious and get better in a few days. But sometimes they can become infected or cause a serious allergic reaction.
Check if it's an insect bite or sting
The main symptoms of an insect bite or sting are:
pain where you were bitten or stung
a small, swollen lump on the skin
The lump may look red. It may be more difficult to see on black or brown skin, but you should be able to feel it.
Easing your symptoms
If there's nothing in your skin, or you've removed it, wash your skin with soap and water to help lower the chance of infection.
The bite or sting should get better in a few days. A pharmacist can advise you about medicines that can help ease the symptoms of a bite or sting, such as:
