Gareth Ratcliffe PAVO health promotion facilitator for the Mid Powys GP practises said: “Advice for adults and children has been highlighted by local GPs. With the Royal Welsh Show and other local shows just around the corner, it’s important to think about skin safety and keeping cool to protect yourself from the damage the sun can course”

“Sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer. Sunburn does not just happen on holiday. You can burn in the UK, even when it’s cloudy. There’s no safe or healthy way to get a tan. A tan does not protect your skin from the sun’s harmful effects. Aim to strike a balance between protecting yourself from the sun and getting enough vitamin D from sunlight.”

“Next week, Wales is expecting to see the sunny weather continue. It’s important that we cover up and apply sunscreen carefully to protect skin from the sun. Keeping as cool as possible gives protection from heat stroke.”

Glass of water by Ikhsan Sugiarto on Unsplash
Glass of water (khsan Sugiarto on Unsplash)

Here are some pointers to help you enjoy your week

  • Try to stay indoors or under in the shade, especially between midday and 3pm;
  • Use sunscreens or sun blocks to help prevent sunburn;
  • Cover up with a t-shirt or other loose-fitting clothes;
  • Wear a hat to shade your head and sunglasses to protect your eyes;
  • Drink plenty of water, at least eight glasses a day. Avoid alcohol, tea or coffee as they can make you dehydrated; and,
  • Keep medicines below 25°C with ice packs or in the fridge (read the storage instructions on the packaging).

If you or others feel unwell:

  • Try to get help if you feel dizzy, weak, anxious or have an intense thirst and headache;
  • Move to a cool place as soon as possible and measure your body temperature;
  • Drink some water or fruit juice to rehydrate;
  • Rest immediately in a cool place if you have painful muscular spasms (particularly in the legs, arms or stomach, in many cases after sustained exercise during very hot weather), and drink oral rehydration solutions containing electrolytes;
  • Medical attention is needed if heat cramps last more than one hour; and,
  • Consult your doctor if you feel unusual symptoms or if symptoms persist

How to deal with sunburn?

Sponge sore skin with cool water, then apply soothing aftersun cream or spray, like aloe vera. Painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, will ease the pain by helping to reduce inflammation caused by sunburn.

Stay out of the sun until all signs of redness have gone. Seek medical help if you feel unwell or the skin swells badly or blisters. Stay out of the sun until all signs of redness have gone.

Royal Welsh Agricultural Society confirms plan to help with hot weather

The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society has confirmed that it is putting in place hot weather protocols for the 2022 Royal Welsh Show which will begin before the show starts on Monday 18th July.

With the hot weather forecast for the beginning of the event, the Society is taking additional precautions and working hard with our partners to mitigate the risks of heat and improve the safety of people and animals.The precautions we have put in place to safeguard those people visiting, exhibiting and working at the event are as follows:

  • We will have additional water resources to the site and local area, for both livestock and people.
  • The use of temporary charcoal barbeques is prohibited on all sites owing to the risk of fire.
  • Public safety advice has been published reminding visitors to wear sunscreen, and a sunhat and to bring a water bottle to make use of our many water refill points around the showground to keep hydrated.
  • Additional undercover seating areas have been created for visitors to have a rest in the shade next to the Horticulture Marquee and within the Council area.
  • Dress codes for our officials and competitors are being relaxed as required.

The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society is putting in place hot weather protocols for the 2022 Royal Welsh Show which will begin before the show starts on Monday 18th July.

With the hot weather forecast for the beginning of the event, the Society is taking additional precautions and working hard with our partners to mitigate the risks of heat and improve the safety of people and animals.

The precautions we have put in place to safeguard those people visiting, exhibiting and working at the event are as follows;As in previous years, dogs are not allowed on site (except for assistance dogs) and must not be left in cars. Additional safety measures are being put in place working alongside the Builth Wells Safety Advisory Group.We ask that everyone visiting the show follows the advice on Public Health Wales. For more information on safety at our events please visits our website.

Welfare of Livestock

Numerous provisions are also being made within the livestock section. Additional water will be available, and fans have been installed in all the livestock buildings with new upgraded fans in the most vulnerable areas.

Arrival times for livestock have been amended in order to welcome stock in the early morning and late evenings, to avoid queues at the hottest times of the day.

Our Society vets will be on call during the setup and duration of the event for any veterinary assistance, with stewards also on hand to help with any issues that may occur.

Temperatures in the livestock buildings will be monitored continuously, to support real-time decisions.

Consideration will also be given to class timings, which can be changed if necessary.

The Society is working in partnership with the Met Office, Dwr Cymru, Public Health Wales, Chief Veterinary Officer, Local Authority and all blue light services to ensure that the Royal Welsh Show is a great success, despite the predicted weather.

We are very much look forward to welcoming everyone back to the Showground in Llanelwedd next week for what is set to be a fantastic show.