Keeping safe this summer

Fire service: the risk of wildfires remains high across West Sussex.

Government: areas in England declared in drought after record dry July

An amber heat health alert from UKHSA is in place for south east England from 11 to 14 August. 

There is an increased risk of fires being started outside during the summer months.

Follow advice from West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service to help keep everyone safe.

Use barbecues, especially disposable ones, safely. They can pose a huge fire risk.

Hot weather can put pressure on water supplies.

Check your water supplier to see whether water use restrictions are in place where you are: 

• Southern Water 
• South East Water 
• Portsmouth Water 

Our climate action advice has tips on using less and protecting the environment.

Let's Save Water is a campaign led by Ofwat and backed by water companies.

Water UK is the trade association for water companies.

Beat the heat with hot weather advice.

The keep cool at home checklist can help you stay comfortable indoors.

Spot the signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke with advice from the NHS.

Action cards for heat health alerts for carers, commissioners, voluntary organisations, and more.

More advice from us about heatwaves.

Prepare for extreme heat and heatwaves.

Sign up to heat health alerts from UK Health Security Agency.

Entering cold rivers, lakes and the sea to escape the heat can pose serious health risks. 

Learn about cold water shock

Float to Live is the advice from RNLI.

In an emergency at the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. If you are deaf or have a speech impairment, send an emergency SMS.

Know the risks at the coast and how to stay safe.

Get advice from ROSPA and West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service.

Keep your family safe at home, beaches, rivers, and pools with resources for parents.

Check weather, sea conditions and tide times before you travel

Don't Drink and Drown. Don't enter the water if you’ve consumed alcohol or drugs; they increase the risk of accidents, including drowning. 

Discover the importance of staying hydrated with the British Nutrition Foundation.

Drink enough healthy fluids every day to stay hydrated.

Call the shots! Go easy on alcohol. Alternate with water, and soft and alcohol-free drinks.

Take water with you and use the Refill app to find free refill stations.

Use NHS 111 online or contact your GP practice for health advice. 

In a life-threatening emergency, always call 999.

Make the right choice for your health needs with local NHS advice on using services.

Protect your skin with sun safety advice from Cancer Research UK.

Call the shots on alcohol, stay in control and enjoy drinking safely. 

Your mental health is just as important during hot weather. 

Check air quality alerts in Sussex; hot weather can affect people with breathing conditions.

Stay healthy year-round with advice from West Sussex Wellbeing.

Enjoy food safely with hygiene tips from the Food Standards Agency.

Be tick aware! They're more active in warmer months and spread Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis.

SAFE: Sex Aware, Feel Empowered has information on sexual health services and where to get free condoms, contraception and STI testing kits.  

Look out for friends, family, and neighbours who might struggle in the heat.

Supporting vulnerable people has helpful advice.

Don't forget pets and animals! RSPCA guidance can help keep them safe.

Driving in hot weather? Prepare before setting off and take water.  

Sudden downpours of rain can affect your ability to see, response times and road conditions.

National Highways say that if it's time for your wipers, it's time to slow down.

Don't drive through flood water. Discover the risk of flash floods.

If your vehicle aquaplanes, keep a level head and follow further advice. 

Train and bus services may be affected. Check National Rail and your bus operator.

Check health and safety advice on the event organiser's website.

Check travel updates before heading off and take water with you for the journey.  

Stay up-to-date with vaccines to keep yourself and other people healthy during the event.

Be aware of health risks including drug and alcohol use, sexually transmitted infections, diseases like measles and meningococcal disease, and heat-related illness.

Know where to go to get medical advice quickly if you or a friend feel unwell.

Get help immediately if you’re worried about yours or someone else’s health.

Hot weather advice for organisers of mass gatherings and events 

The council has gritters on standby ready to deploy a granite treatment to help protect road surfaces from extreme heat.

Our teams monitor and inspect key sites and respond to issues reported to us.

Report issues with the roads.

We are minimising the amount of time our highways teams and contractors are exposed to extreme heat during the hottest parts of the day. 

This may mean some minor impacts on work schedules, but their health and wellbeing is a priority. 

Experience Sussex has ideas on events, places to visit and things to do across our county.