Emergency services issue tips on how to stay safe as red weather warning is issued

With temperatures set to soar and a red weather warning issued for the area, residents are being offered advice on how to keep safe over the coming days.

East Midlands Ambulance Service says the heat warning means there could be a danger to life or potential serious illness from the scorching temperatures.

Residents are encouraged to follow the simple advice and visit the NHS website for information: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/heatwave-how-to-cope-in-hot-weather/

Tips include:

• Look out for others, especially older people, young children, and babies and those with underlying health conditions

• Drink plenty of water; sugary, alcoholic, and caffeinated drinks can make you more dehydrated

• Close curtains on rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler and remember it may be cooler outdoors than indoors

• Open windows when it feels cooler outside and it’s safe to do so

• Never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children, or animals

• Try to keep out of the sun between 11am to 3pm

• Walk in the shade, apply sunscreen, and wear a hat, if you have to go out in the heat

• Avoid physical exertion in the hottest parts of the day

• Wear light, loose fitting cotton clothes

David Williams, deputy director of operations at Emas, said: “We need each and every person to take this heat warning seriously and to do everything they can to stay well to prevent additional pressure on the NHS.

“We continue to experience immense pressure on our ambulance service and our staff are working phenomenally hard to the sickest and most severely injured patients.

“Calling 999 for medical help should be a last resort, after you have tried self-care, your local pharmacy, your GP, NHS111 Online and your local Urgent Treatment Centre.

“If you do call need to call 999 for medical help, you will go through several stages of assessment which may include a call back from one of our control room paramedics or nurses to ensure we are prioritising the patients who need our help first.

“Patients experiencing less serious illnesses or injuries may experience an extended wait for an ambulance, so if you are asked by our 999-control room if you can make your own way to hospital, please do so – either via taxi or asking a friend or family member to drive you.

“This allows us to continue to respond to patients who need our ambulances with highly-skilled clinicians and life-saving equipment on board to provide ongoing treatment on the way to hospital.”

Drinking plenty of water will help keep you hydrated and avoid unpleasant symptoms such as a headache and cramps. It can also prevent illnesses such as heat exhaustion, which can lead to heatstroke. If you do experience any symptoms, sit in the shade, drink plenty of water and if they do not improve, seek advice from your GP out of hours service, NHS 111 Online or local pharmacy. To find your nearest services you can search at www.nhs.uk.

The symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

• A headache
• Dizziness and confusion
• Loss of appetite and feeling sick
• Excessive sweating
• Cramps
• Being very thirsty
• A high temperature
• Fast breathing or pulse