School’s out for summer: Families urged to stay well and know where to get the right NHS help
As schools break up and warm weather is set to continue over the summer months, parents and carers across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire are being encouraged to take simple steps to keep their families healthy and know where to go if they need NHS care.
The local NHS is launching its Stay Well This Summer campaign, promoting practical advice to help people stay safe during the holidays and raising awareness of the range of NHS services available to help with summer illnesses and injuries.
With children spending more time outdoors during the school holidays, the NHS is encouraging parents and carers to be prepared for common summer health issues such as sunburn, insect bites, minor injuries, hay fever, tummy bugs and dehydration.
Many of these can be managed through self-care, advice from a pharmacist or by using resources such as the NHS website and the NHS HANDi App – a free app that gives local advice and guidance on a range of common childhood illnesses.
Dr Geeta Iyer, Deputy Chief Medical Officer at NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, said:
“The summer holidays are an exciting time for families, but they can also bring the usual bumps, scrapes and seasonal illnesses that come with children spending more time outdoors.
“We want parents and carers to feel confident about where to get help if their child becomes unwell. For many conditions, self-care advice, community pharmacies, NHS 111 and local urgent treatment services can provide the support families need quickly and conveniently.
“We’re also encouraging everyone to follow simple hot weather advice, by staying hydrated and taking extra care of babies, young children, older relatives and anyone with existing health conditions.”
Parents and carers can help keep their families healthy by:
- Keeping children hydrated and encouraging them to drink water regularly during hot weather.
- Using sunscreen, hats and shade to protect against sunburn and heat-related illness.
- Keeping out of the sun at the hottest time of the day, between 11am and 3pm.
- Being aware that babies and young children are particularly vulnerable during periods of hot weather.
- Keeping a well-stocked home medicine cabinet with essentials such as pain relief, antihistamines, plasters and a thermometer.
- Using trusted NHS advice and resources such as the NHS HANDi App and NHS website to manage minor illnesses and injuries at home where appropriate.
If you or a family member becomes unwell over the summer holidays, there are a range of NHS services available to help including community pharmacies, NHS 111 and minor injury units and urgent treatment centres, which offer treatment for children aged 12 months and above. A&E and 999 should only be used for life-threatening emergencies.
Pharmacists can also provide prescription medication to children for a range of health conditions without them needing to see a GP first. They include:
- Sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)
- Sore throat (aged five years and over)
- Earache (aged one year to 17 years)
- Infected insect bite (aged one year and over)
- Impetigo (aged one year and over).