Sun safety tips
Spend time in the shade when the sun is strongest. In the UK, this is between 11am and 3pm from March to October.
Make sure you:
- spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm
- never burn
- cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses
- take extra care with children
- use at least factor 30 sunscreen
Sunscreen and sun safety – NHS
Tips for coping in hot weather
Keep out of the heat if you can. If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter.
Cool yourself down. Have cold food and drinks, avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes.
Keep your living space cool. Close windows during the day and open them at night when the temperature outside has gone down. Electric fans can help if the temperature is below 35 degrees. Check the temperature of rooms, especially where people at higher risk live and sleep.
Heatwave: how to cope in hot weather – NHS
How to treat hay fever yourself
There’s 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.
Do
- put petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) around your nostrils to trap pollen
- wear wraparound sunglasses, a mask or a wide-brimmed hat to stop pollen getting into your nose and eyes
- shower and change your clothes after you have been outside to wash pollen off
- keep windows and doors shut as much as possible
- vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth
- try to use a pollen filter in the air vents of your car, if you have one, and a HEPA filter in your vacuum cleaner
Don’t
- do not cut grass or walk on grass
- do not spend too much time outside
- do not keep fresh flowers in the house
- do not smoke or be around smoke – it makes your symptoms worse
- do not dry clothes outside – they can catch pollen
- do not let pets into the house if possible – they can carry pollen indoors
You can speak to a pharmacist if you have hay fever. they can give you advice and suggest the best treatments to help with symptoms, such as:
- antihistamine drops, tablets or nasal sprays
- steroid nasal sprays
Some antihistamines can make you very sleepy, so speak to your pharmacist about non-drowsy antihistamines if you need to.