Summer’s hottest trend prescribed by Met Office and NHS for heatwave
‘UV can damage your eyes just like it damages your skin. They have to be UVprotective sunglasses – the cheaper ones are usually not’
THE heatwave might see you digging around in a drawer for your old sunglasses – but a trendy pair might not cut it, the Met Office has said.
They may not be fashionable, but sporty wraparound sunglasses give the best protection, the official weather service said.
UV radiation is expected to peak at a “very high” level of eight for the next three days, with lunchtime sun the strongest. This is the highest level UV normally gets in the UK. The Met Office said people should “avoid being outside during midday hours”, with a sun hat and sun cream “essential”.
Greg Dewhurst, Met Office senior meteorologist, said: “Our advice is – if you can avoid the midday sun at this time of year it’s preferred so you don’t burn, but if you have to be in the sun for any length of time then it’s good to try and stay in the shade or wear a high-factor sun cream.
“UV can damage your eyes just like it damages your skin. They have to be UVprotective sunglasses – the cheaper ones are usually not. Wraparound just means the sun doesn’t usually come through the side of the glasses.”
The NHS advises people to wear “sunglasses with wraparound lenses or wide arms with the CE Mark and British Standard Mark 12312-1:2013 E”.
At a UV index level of eight, someone who isn’t wearing sun cream might expect to burn in 15 to 25 minutes in the sun. Higher levels of nine or 10 are often seen in the Mediterranean, and anywhere more than 11 is considered “extreme”, when a fair-skinned person might burn in less than five minutes.
UV peaks when the sun is highest in the sky, around the summer solstice in late June.
The warning comes amid a heatwave that could bring record-breaking temperatures of more than 32C next week.
The hottest temperature ever recorded in the UK is 38.7C in July 2019.
This year’s record high currently stands at 32.7C, recorded at Heathrow on June 17, the Met Office said.
A heat health alert has been issued for some regions, with those in affected areas advised to shade or cover windows, check fridges are working properly, and that medicine is correctly stored.