Hot weather warning from health chiefs

HEALTH chiefs at Warrington have issued a “hot weather” warning for this weekend.
Dr Andy Davies, chairman of Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group, issued a message to the public: “Please keep hydrated and healthy during this weekend’s hot summer weather.”
He said there had already been a rise in the number of local cases linked to the heat and pollen.
Warrington Hospital’s A&E department was very busy last weekend with more cases of dehydration than normal, and more cases of respiratory problems linked to pollen.
Dr Davies hopes people will follow NHS advice this weekend to stay healthy and avoid a trip to A&E.
“The hot weather helped make last weekend a very busy one for Warrington Hospital,” he said.
“If you want to stay healthy please follow the advice. Drink lots of cool drinks – six glasses a day should be your target – and avoid alcohol and hot drinks.
“Make sure you have medication for your inhaler.
“And if you know anyone vulnerable – like the elderly or the housebound – please check they are keeping hydrated and their breathing is okay.”
The Met Office is predicting temperatures in Warrington will hit 26C and it will remain mostly dry and very warm on Saturday.
And it says there is a high pollen risk in the north west including Warrington, with weed pollen and lots of fungal spores airborne.
Hot, humid weather and pollen can trigger asthma.
The number of people registered at Warrington GP practices with asthma last year was 13,110 – around six per cent of the population.
The most vulnerable people during hot weather are the very young and the elderly and people with chronic heart or breathing conditions.
NHS advice includes shutting windows and shades during the day time heat, and then opening them for ventilation in the evening.