Glorious, but do take care
THE weather has been glorious lately, and forecasters are predicting as many as seven more hot spells over the rest of the summer.
While temperatures look bearable next week for Wimbledon, starting on Monday, it’s wise to take precautions to protect yourself if the heatwaves do keep coming.
Sitting outside in the sunshine is a good chance to build up vitamin D reserves. But do slap on sunscreen for any longer sessions.
It’s also a sensible idea to drink six to eight glasses of liquid a day to stay hydrated when it’s hot, though you might need advice if you have issues with water retention.
When the weather gets really hot, watch out for symptoms of heat exhaustion, such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, intense thirst, heavy sweating and a fast pulse. If affected, find a cool place, loosen tight clothes, drink water, sponge yourself or have a cool shower.
Heatstroke is a more serious condition, with symptoms including confusion — an ambulance will need to be called.
With a little care, and a watchful eye on the forecast, we should all be able to make the most of the good weather while it lasts. Hold out for these stairlift features THE benefits of a stairlift can be genuinely lifechanging, but there are features to look out for to get the best experience. For example, it’s vital there are safety sensors to detect any obstruction. These will bring the stairlift to a halt so that you can remove it. A swivel seat that locks in position is easier to get in and out of, especially at the top of the stairs, where safety f t is i paramount. t Paddle controls on either side of the seat allow the seat to swivel, acting as a safety barrier at the top. A smooth ride, with no sudden jolts, is better for you and your stairlift. And rechargeable batteries means you’ll never be left stranded in a power cut. The batteries are topped up from the mains when the stairlift is parked at its charging stations at either end of the flight of stairs. As when travelling in a car, you should always ‘buckle up’ on your stairlift, so look for safety belts. A clear and easy-to-read digital display will help you diagnose any simple faults or changes in your stairlift’s status. In most cases you can rectify it yourself or call the manufacturer’s helpline for expert assistance. A remote t control t l allows ll you to summon the stairlift. And a model with a slim, foldaway design makes it easier for others to use the stairs. The seat, arms and footrest should fold up neatly, at the push of a button if you prefer. These features make a stairlift reliable, safe, inconspicuous, easy to use and cost-effective.