Helping you to Stay Well this Summer

Summer is a great time for activity, for fun and for relaxing – and your local health and social care teams want to help you make the most of it.

The warmer temperatures and the longer days are perfect for taking part in outdoor activities, for exploring the world around you, catching up with family and friends or attending special events.

Yet there are some potential pitfalls that could ruin the fun.

Dr Huw Thomas, a GP and a Board member of Frimley Health and Care Integrated Care System,, said: “Summer’s a great time to recharge, both physically and mentally. The longer, brighter days allow us to be more active, spending more time in the great outdoors and getting together with family and friends.

“While enjoying ourselves it can be easy to forget simple things which we might regret later and which might even put us in danger, like spending too long in the sun, drinking too much alcohol or going into open water to cool down.

“We want everyone to have a really enjoyable summer and so we’re running a campaign, called ‘Stay Well this Summer’, through which we’ll be sharing a number of small, simple pieces of advice, which together can help all of our residents to not only have a good time but to also be healthier and happier.”

The advice ranges from tips around sun protection and recognising symptoms of heat exposure, through to food safety for barbecues and picnics and staying safe around water – recognising the dangers posed by the temptation of lakes and rivers on hot summer days.

But it’s not all about avoiding the dangers. There’s also advice on using the warmer, longer days to get active and enjoy the countryside, and the benefits that can bring to both your physical and mental health in the long term.

Local pharmacies can be particularly helpful during the summer months, as there are many ways in which they can support people’s health and wellbeing.

Yousaf Ahmad, the Chief Pharmacist for Frimley Health and Care Integrated Care System, said: “Healthcare starts at home and with a well-stocked medicine cabinet we can treat many minor ailments and injuries ourselves. That’s where your local pharmacy can help this summer, with making sure we have the basics and that everything is in date .

“Whether you need plasters, ointment, sun tan lotion, after sun cream, insect repellent, sting or bite cream, your pharmacist can help. Pharmacists are highly trained medical professionals and can also give advice on many common ailments.

“So use your local community pharmacy to help you make the most of the summer.”

You can follow the campaign on the Frimley Health and Care website: fhac-archive.frimley.icb.nhs.uk/staywellthissummer and on social media:

• Twitter: @FrimleyHC
• Facebook: FrimleyHealthandCare
• Instagram: frimleyhealthandcareics