Protect yourself in the heat wave

It so lovely having glorious weather. The parks are filled with people, the paddling pools have all come out and everywhere I look, people are enjoying feeling the sun on their faces. Not wanting to be a killjoy, I just thought I would offer a bit of advice on how you can protect yourself from the dangerous side effects of getting too much sun - the dreaded UV rays can damage the skin, burn it and even cause skin cancer.

Use at least SPF 15 all over your body. As soon as you get up in the morning, coat yourself head to toe in sun cream. Even if you don’t think you’ll be going out in the sun that particular day, it is still possible to get skin damage just from walking to buy your lunch or unloading the car. Just a few minutes is all that the sun and its UV rays needs to cause havoc to your skin.

• Use at least SPF 15 lipbalm. The above advice can also be applied to your lips. They burn too and need protection against the sun.
• Wear a hat. Ideally one with a wide brim or a type of fishing hat as this offers the most protection shading your eyes, ears, head and neck.
• Wear sunglasses. This will help protect your eyes against the ferocious sun. Just remember to give your face a good covering of sun cream or else you will end up with panda eyes!
• Do not sit out in the hottest part of the day. By all means we should enjoy the sun, but sitting out and roasting your face and body between the hours of 10 and 4 is really not a good idea. The sun is at its most fierce during this time and can burn the skin quickly.

Who knows how long this heat wave will last, but whilst it does, enjoy it, let it lift your mood and have a nice BBQ with friends. As long as you take sensible precautions, drink plenty of water and keep your sun cream topped up, you will be fully protected and safe. Contact us at G Baldwin & Co, to buy or know more about Sun Screen Lotion.

How to Protect yourself from Swine Flu

As swine flu rampages across the globe, unsurprisingly people are becoming worried. It is a respiratory infection caused by influenza type A and the new strain that has emerged can be passed relatively easily from person to person.

Whilst facemasks are a protective method being used currently in Mexico and other parts of the world, they only reduce the risk of infection if worn continuously and in the correct way. In the UK, the government has stockpiled a great number for NHS staff but there are currently no plans to distribute them to the general public.

The symptoms of swine flu are similar to the standard flu such as coughing, a sore throat, fever, headache, aches and pains as well as chills and general fatigue. Diarrhoea and vomiting can also occur.

If you have recently travelled to Mexico or are living in a place where cases have been reported it might be wise to consult a doctor, however to minimise the chance of spreading the virus, let the medical professional come to you rather than heading to your local surgery.

The good news is swine flu is treatable with medications such as Tamilflu, and with swift treatment can rid yourself of the virus. A vaccine will not be available for several months however.

Advice includes taking precautions such as covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing with a tissue and then discarding it. Washing hands frequently can also help reduce the risk of infection. If you do feel under the weather stay indoors and contact a medical professional. Children should stay home from school if any symptoms materialise.

Try and give your immune system a boost if you can by eating more fruits and vegetables. It also might even be worthwhile taking some vitamin supplements too to ensure your body is in tip top condition and can more easily fight any possible infection of the virus.

It is important not to panic and remember that there is treatment available that has helped a great number of people so far. Always err on the side of caution and consult a doctor if any of the symptoms occur.