Most of us welcome hot weather, but when it’s too hot, there are health risks. During heatwaves, more people than usual get seriously ill.
A heatwave can affect anyone, but the more vulnerable people include older people, babies, people with serious or long-term health conditions, and people who are on multiple medicines that may make them more likely to be badly affected by hot weather.
Find out how to keep yourself and your loved ones safe during hot weather here and here.
Most medicines should be kept below 25°C, so they should be stored somewhere cool, dry, out of direct sunlight and away from windowsills. Medicines should only be stored in the fridge if specified.
If you are worried about your health during a heat wave, especially if you are taking medication, or if you feel unwell or have any unusual symptoms, seek advice by contacting the surgery or NHS 111 if out of hours. Remember heatstroke can kill. It can develop very suddenly and rapidly lead to unconsciousness, if you suspect someone has heatstroke call 999 immediately.
Advice for adults and children on sunscreen and sun safety in the UK and abroad can be found here.