As Summer time approaches, we stay up for  travelling, taking holidays, attending occasions and having fun with extra time outside. There are some easy issues we will all do to remain secure all through summer season and to maintain sickness at bay as we benefit from the longer days and higher climate.

COVID-19

COVID-19 has not gone away, we’re all studying to dwell with it. Fortunately the vaccine continues to be extremely efficient in stopping extreme sickness and antiviral remedies at the moment are out there for those who need them. Nonetheless in current weeks we now have seen a small, however regular enhance in circumstances. We will all comply with easy steps to assist defend ourselves, household and mates.

The perfect factor we will all do is be sure that we’re updated with our vaccinations. These stay our greatest type of defence in opposition to the virus. It’s not too late to catch up for those who’ve missed boosters and even first doses.

When you’ve got any signs of a respiratory an infection and a excessive temperature or really feel unwell, attempt to keep at dwelling or away from others – particularly those that are aged or susceptible.

If you’re assembly others indoors you need to let numerous contemporary air in. Open some home windows to assist with air flow and within the sunny climate you may additionally plan to satisfy outdoors.

We should always all proceed to observe good hand hygiene, incessantly washing our palms for 20 seconds with scorching water and cleaning soap. It may also be a good suggestion to put on a face overlaying in a crowded area comparable to public transport.

We should always all proceed to comply with essentially the most up-to date steering which might be discovered here.

Heatwaves

The climate can have an effect on our well being, significantly in those that are extra susceptible or have long-term well being circumstances. If scorching climate hits this summer season, you’ll be able to assist defend your self and others by:

• Looking for individuals who could wrestle to maintain themselves cool and hydrated – older individuals, these with underlying well being circumstances and people who dwell alone are significantly in danger
• Staying cool indoors – closing curtains on rooms that face the solar can preserve the temperature decrease in indoor areas
• Consuming loads of fluids and avoiding extra alcohol
• By no means depart anybody in a closed, parked car, particularly infants, younger youngsters or animals
• Attempt to preserve out of the solar between 11am to 3pm, when its strongest
• Strolling within the shade, making use of sunscreen often can defend your pores and skin, and it’s useful to put on a large brimmed hat whereas outdoors on sunny days

Travelling overseas this 12 months?

For those who’re planning to journey outdoors the UK, test well being info in your vacation spot earlier than you go. It’s possible you’ll want vaccines to guard you from severe ailments present in some elements of the world and may additionally want remedy, for instance to guard you in opposition to malaria.

Test the recommendation in your vacation spot on TravelHealthPro and communicate to your observe nurse, GP, pharmacist or a journey clinic ideally 4-6 weeks earlier than journey to get acceptable recommendation in your journey. They can provide you details about vaccinations and any further precautions or remedy you may want to take.

Make sure you check the COVID-19 rules and entry requirements for the nation you might be travelling to.

• Vaccines can forestall a variety of completely different infections together with a few of the diseases unfold by way of meals and water and a few of the ailments unfold by bugs, comparable to yellow fever or Japanese encephalitis. Nonetheless, there are a selection of ailments which aren’t vaccine preventable. Take fundamental precautions with meals and water and bug chunk avoidance, carry a fundamental first assist package to handle widespread issues and know when to see medical assist

• Rabies is discovered all through the world and all animals can catch rabies and move it on. Keep away from contact with wild and home animals the place doable. If you’re bitten, scratched or licked on damaged pores and skin, instantly wash the realm totally with cleaning soap and water, and search medical consideration domestically. It’s possible you’ll be suggested to start out rabies post-exposure therapy, however all the time contact your GP on return to the UK to finish any therapy required. Additional details about rabies is accessible on this leaflet for travellers. Test whether or not you’re visiting a place where rabies is present in animals and contemplate having a course of pre-exposure rabies vaccines if you’re enterprise actions which may put you at larger threat of contact with animals or if you’re visiting distant areas the place medical care is probably not available.

Learn extra about travel illnesses, vaccinations and travel health advice.

Immunisations

Checking you’re updated in your routine vaccinations together with MMR and MenACWY is essential and helps to maintain diseases from spreading. If you’re undecided which vaccines you’ve had, contact your GP surgical procedure and if you’re a father or mother or carer, you’ll be able to look in your youngster’s pink e book (their well being document). For some vaccines it’s by no means too late to catch up. The listing of routine NHS vaccines might be seen on the NHS website here.

It’s additionally not too late to have the COVID vaccine. It doesn’t matter which dose you might be due. Go to the NHS web site to seek out your nearest vaccination centre or cellphone 119

For extra recommendation on staying secure in the course of the summer season, go to the NHS website.

Monkeypox

The outbreak of Monkeypox, largely affecting males who’re homosexual or bisexual, is rising within the UK and elsewhere in Europe. The an infection can unfold by way of shut bodily contact like skin-to-skin contact, kissing, intercourse or sharing issues like bedding and towels.

Some examples of the signs of Monkeypox contains current uncommon spots, ulcers or blisters in your physique, fever, complications, muscle aches, chills and exhaustion in addition to swollen glands.

Anybody can get Monkeypox, significantly when you have had shut contact, together with sexual contact, with a person with signs. Throughout a time when extra persons are mixing and spending time collectively, it’s essential to concentrate on the signs, significantly when you have lately had a brand new sexual accomplice.

Contact a sexual well being clinic when you have a rash with blisters and also you’ve been both:

• in shut contact, together with sexual contact, with somebody who has or might need Monkeypox (even when they’ve not been examined but) up to now 3 weeks
• to West or Central Africa up to now 3 weeks

Keep away from shut contact with others till you could have acquired medical recommendation.

Insect Bites    

There are some easy precautions you’ll be able to take to cut back your threat of being bitten or stung by bugs. It is significantly essential to comply with this recommendation for those who’ve had a nasty response to an insect chunk or sting up to now otherwise you’re travelling to an space the place there is a threat of choosing up a severe sickness.

The next measures might help you keep away from insect bites and stings:

• Cowl uncovered pores and skin – for those who’re outdoors at a time of day when bugs are significantly energetic, comparable to dawn or sundown, sporting unfastened clothes and conserving sneakers on might help you keep away from bites. Apply insect repellent to uncovered pores and skin – repellents that include 50% DEET (diethyltoluamide) are best.

• Be conscious that mosquitoes and horseflies are generally discovered close to water.

Ticks

Ticks are small spider-like creatures which might be primarily present in woodland, heathland and areas with lengthy grass, together with in city parks. They connect to your pores and skin, and chunk to suck blood. Micro organism within the ticks can result in Lyme disease in some circumstances. Our blog has extra element.

You possibly can cut back your threat of being bitten by a tick for those who:

• Maintain to footpaths and keep away from areas of lengthy grass when out strolling
• Put on acceptable clothes in tick-infested areas (a long-sleeved shirt and trousers)
• Test your self for ticks when you could have walked in these habitats, and test once more on the finish of the day to take away any ticks
• Put on light-coloured materials which will show you how to spot a tick in your garments
• Use insect repellent on uncovered pores and skin
• Examine your pores and skin for ticks, significantly on the finish of the day, together with in your legs, arms and groin space, and significantly for kids, test across the head, neck and pores and skin folds (armpits, groin, and waistband) and test your youngsters and any pets. It’s essential you take away ticks as quickly as doable for those who discover them in your pores and skin.

Watch our video on Lyme illness for extra info:

Meals

Summer time is a superb time to take pleasure in a BBQ with household and mates. Making certain meat isn’t left outdoors of the fridge for lengthy intervals and is cooked totally might help forestall meals poisoning. Handwashing earlier than getting ready meals and after handing uncooked meat might help forestall micro organism spreading too.

Study extra about BBQ meals security here.