PEOPLE are being warned about the dangers of dehydration, severe sunburn and heatstroke after forecasters predicted this weekend will be one of the warmest for years.
Doctors said yesterday they had already seen an increase in cases of dehydration, mostly as a result of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and not enough water, as temperatures peaked at almost 30 degrees centigrade (86°F) in the west of Scotland.
Accident and emergency departments have also been inundated with people seeking treatment for bad sunburn and heatstroke, and there are fears that more people will need medical help as the prolonged warm weather takes its toll, particularly on the elderly and very young.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde also expressed concern that some patients who had suffered from "a bit too much sun" had been turning up at A&E departments when they could have received treatment from their local GP or been given advice over the phone by NHS 24.
The highest temperature recorded yesterday was 29.3°C in Prestwick, South Ayrshire. In Glasgow yesterday the mercury reached 28°C while in Edinburgh it was 24°C. The temperatures are expected to remain high, particularly in the west, until the start of next week.
Medics said that even a few minutes in hot sunshine could lead to severe sunburn and advised people to drink lots of fluids, wear a hat and loose clothing outdoors, and apply sunscreen.
They also urged motorists and those travelling by bus and train to carry a bottle of water and to limit doing sports and physical activities to cooler parts of the day.
Alastair Ireland, clinical director of emergency care and medical services at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, said: "This weekend is expected to be one of the warmest we have had for a number of years.
"We want everyone to enjoy their time in the sun but people need to be sensible and take precautions which will ensure they stay healthy while enjoying the weather.
"People should try to avoid being in direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day between noon and 3pm. Replenishing fluids is really important as everyone runs the risk of becoming relatively dehydrated in this heat and everyone should be particularly careful to take extra liquids – cold tap water is ideal – at regular intervals."
He said people who felt unwell should contact their GP or NHS 24 in the first instance.
He added: "Accident and emergency departments across the country have seen a number of patients attend who have had a bit too much sun but who could have been seen by their GP or given advice by NHS 24."
Nationwide, the spate of hot weather is believed to have caused up to 760 premature deaths and heatwave warnings have been issued for England, where the mercury is predicted to rise to as high as 35°C next week.
There is no similar procedure for publishing official warnings about high temperatures in Scotland but health boards issued special advice regarding the elderly and young children.
Dr Linda de Caestecker, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's director of public health, said: "Children are especially vulnerable and care should be taken to ensure they are covered up adequately.
"Babies, in particular, need to be covered up.
"With both suncreams and sun-protection clothing designed for babies and children, there is no need for children to be overexposed to the sun."
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