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NHS issues sun safety advice to people in Cumbria

NHS issues sun safety advice to people in Cumbria

Yahoo30-04-2025
THE NHS has issued advice to people in Cumbria as we enter a hot spell.
The public is reminded to stay safe as temperatures get warmer across the county.
Top tips include wearing sun cream and staying hydrated.
The hot temperatures and sunny weather can be dangerous for some people.
In a post on social media, North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) wrote: "It's important that you know how to stay safe in the sun – this is particularly important for those with long-term health conditions, those who are older, and for babies and youngsters.
"The main risks are caused by not drinking enough water and overheating, which can make symptoms worse for people who already have problems with their heart or breathing.
"It's important to remember that babies less than six months old should be kept out of direct sunlight.
"Their skin is sensitive and contains less melanin than in older children. Melanin is the pigment that gives skin, hair, and eyes their colour, and provides some protection from the sun."
Members of the public are encouraged to seek shade. Spend time in the shade when the sun is strongest. In the UK, this is between 11am and 3pm from March to October.
People should also stay hydrated. By the time you start feeling thirsty, you are already becoming dehydrated.
It's important that you drink water or non-alcoholic fluid at regular intervals throughout the day. You should aim to drink around 1.5 - 2 litres (around 8 - 10 200ml glasses) of fluid per day to stay hydrated.
NCIC added: "You should wear sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 to protect against UVB and make sure it has at least 4-star UVA protection. These are available at a low cost from supermarkets.
"Make sure you put enough sunscreen on. As a guide for an adult this means around two teaspoonful's of sunscreen if you're just covering your head, arms and neck.
"Reapply sunscreen regularly throughout the day even if the bottle says 'once a day' or 'water resistant'.
"Sunscreen can rub, sweat or wash off. It's especially important to reapply after towelling dry. And reapplying helps avoid missing bits of skin."
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