Keeping safe this summer

Heat alerts 

A red warning for extreme heat has been issued by the Met Office for parts of England and Wales, including parts of West Sussex, this Wednesday and Thursday (24 and 25 June) 

A red heat health alert has been issued by UKHSA for the south east of England covering West Sussex on the same days. 

Stay safe

The ongoing hot weather will likely have a significant effect on the health of some vulnerable people including the elderly, the very young and people with pre-existing medical conditions. 

The extreme heat on Wednesday and Thursday is likely to have an adverse effect on the health of the population as a whole. 

UKHSA warns that severe impacts are expected across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including:

• increased risk to life across the whole population, with significant impacts on older people
• significantly increased demand on all health and social care services
• the heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services
• hot indoor environments making provision of care challenging and national critical infrastructure failures, such as generators and power outages
• water‑related incidents may increase, including risks from cold‑water shock and drowning

If you know or look after someone that may be susceptible to the effects of hot weather, help them stay well, and please check that they are prepared for this hot spell.

• Beat the heat with hot weather advice.
• Use the keep cool at home checklist to 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, & communities.
• Read more advice from us about heatwaves.
• Learn how to prepare for extreme heat and heatwaves.
• View and sign up to heat health alerts from UK Health Security Agency.

• Stay healthy year-round with advice from West Sussex Wellbeing.
• Make the right choice for your health needs. NHS Surrey and Sussex offers advice on using local services appropriately.
• Get information on sun safety and protecting your skin from Cancer Research UK.
• Alcohol: stay in control and enjoy safely with support from the Call the Shots campaign.
• Enjoy food safely this summer with hygiene tips from the Food Standards Agency.
• Your mental health is just as important during hot weather. See our guidance for local support.
• Air quality: hot weather can affect people with respiratory conditions. Check alerts in Sussex and access health guidance.
• Be tick aware: ticks are more active in warmer months, spreading Lyme disease & tick-borne encephalitis. Watch this video for more information.
• Sexual health: to find out about sexual health services and where to get free condoms, contraception and STI testing kits visit  SAFE: Sex Aware, Feel Empowered

• Understand the importance of hydration with guidance from the British Nutrition Foundation.
• Find out how to get enough healthy fluids every day to stay hydrated.
• Go easy on alcohol, alternate with water or soft drinks, and try alcohol-free options with Call the Shots.
• Take water with you and use the Refill app to find free refill stations.

• Look out for friends, family, and neighbours who might struggle in the heat. Helpful advice is available from Heat summary: supporting vulnerable people.
• Don't forget pets and animals. RSPCA guidance can help keep them safe.

• There is an increased risk of fires being started outside during the summer months.
• Following the advice from West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service can help keep our communities and countryside safe from fire.
• Barbecues, especially disposable ones, pose a huge fire risk, so make sure you know how to use them safely.

• Entering cold rivers, lakes and sea water to escape extreme heat can pose serious health risks. Find out more about cold water shock. 
• 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 with advice from ROSPA and West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service.
• Keep your family safe at home, beaches, rivers, and pools with RLSS resources for parents.
• Check the weather, sea conditions and tide times before you travel
• Do not enter the water if you’ve consumed alcohol or drugs, as they increase the risk of accidents, including drowning: About Don't Drink and Drown

• Schools are being advised to follow the Department for Education guidance to remain open during hot weather.
• Check your child’s school website and social media for any temporary changes to hours, uniform and events. 
• School transport organised by the county council will run to the usual timetable.
• General information about school closures.  

• The council has gritters on standby ready to deploy a granite treatment to help protect road surfaces from extreme heat.
• Our teams are inspecting and monitoring key sites and responding to issues reported to us.
• Report issues with the roads.
• We’re working to minimise our staff and contractors being exposed to 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. 

• Hot weather can put pressure on water supplies. See our climate action advice for tips on using less and protecting the environment.
• Check with your water supplier to see whether water use restrictions are in place where you are. 

• Plan ahead if driving in the heat and get advice from National Highways before you set off. 
• Train services can be affected by heat. Check National Rail for service disruptions before you travel. 
• Travelling to visit friends or relatives abroad? Get government guidance from the Migrant Health Guide.
• Check what travel vaccinations you might need with NHS travel health advice.
• Mosquitoes can spread infections. Take steps to avoid mosquito bites, such as using insect repellent, covering exposed skin, and sleeping in screened or air-conditioned accommodation where possible. Read the advice for travellers.
• Check country-specific travel health advice through TravelHealthPro before you travel.
• TravelHealthPro also has further information on vector-borne disease risks in Europe.

• If you’re attending festivals this summer, always check the health and safety advice on the festival website before you travel. 
• Help protect your health before travelling, stay up-to-date with your vaccines, and take precautions to stay healthy.
• Be aware of health risks including those associated with drug and alcohol use, sexually transmitted infections, diseases such as measles and meningococcal disease, and heat-related illness.
• Know where to go to get medical advice quickly if you or a friend feel unwell, and get help immediately if you’re worried about yours or someone else’s health.

• Explore what’s on across the county. Experience Sussex has ideas on events, places to visit and things to do.