Temperatures are set to reach highs of 30c across the Isle of Wight over the next few days, leading to a dry and hot Isle of Wight Festival, which has prompted the Isle of Wight NHS Trust to remind festivalgoers to stay safe and well.
Whilst many people enjoy the warmer days, an increased period of hot weather can cause some to become unwell through dehydration, sunburn, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Steve Parker, Medical Director for Isle of Wight NHS Trust, says:
“We are forecasting a period of hot weather over the next few days and are encouraging people to stay safe by taking precautions to keep well.
“If possible, we advise people to keep out of the sun at the hottest time of the day, between 11am and 3pm. If you are heading to the festival this weekend, make sure you drink plenty of water, wear plenty of sunscreen and dare I say moderate your intake of alcohol.”
“The warmer weather can also increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, lung problems and other diseases. Older people, babies and young children are also more likely to be unwell from hot weather. People with certain underlying medical conditions can also be vulnerable to the effects of hot weather. We encourage people to take the necessary steps and look after themselves and each other. This will also help avoid increasing pressure on local NHS services, particularly as we are set to welcome visitors to our island for the festival weekend.”
Today (Thursday) marks the start of the festival weekend, with many setting up camp at Seaclose. Organisers of the major event are also reminding those arriving today to bring water, a hat and suncream.
Festival hot weather advice
You can take some simple steps to stay well at a festival during periods of hot weather, remember to carry a refillable water bottle with you and drink it throughout the day, wear sun cream and a sunhat and avoid excess alcohol.
Keep a look-out for signs of heat-related harm in yourself, your friends, and other people around the festival. The signs include:
- a headache
- dizziness and confusion
- loss of appetite and feeling sick
- excessive sweating and pale, clammy skin
- cramps in the arms, legs and stomach
- fast breathing or pulse
- a high temperature of 38C or above
- being very thirsty
If you experience any of these symptoms, drink some water or diluted fruit juice to rehydrate, find somewhere shaded to sit down and rest and avoid excess alcohol. If symptoms have not gone away after 30 minutes of resting, seek help from one of the medical centres at the festival.
Know Where To Go
Over the weekend people should use NHS 111 online as their first point of contact for non-emergency medical advice. NHS 111 online is not available for children under 5 however, Healthier Together can provide lots of advice on common concerns or illnesses as well as accidents and injuries.
People looking for urgent medical help for under 5s should use the 111 phone line. Alternatively you could speak to your local pharmacist for further advice. Check out our Know Where To Go advice.
You can find out more about how to beat the heat on the NHS website at https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/heatwave-how-to-cope-in-hot-weather/.
RIP common sense.
Makes you wonder just what could happen if we ever decided to take the warnings off bottles of bleach, doesn’t it? I’d guess the widespread problem of stupidity would sort itself out.
Safe and Effective
Lol