Sherwood Medical Partnership

10/08/2026

To stay safe in the sun, follow these handy tips:

Use plenty of 4-star, 30+SPF sunscreen, even if you have dark skin
Remember to reapply sunscreen when you have been swimming
Stay in the shade, particularly between 11am and 3pm
Wear UV-protective sunglasses, a wide brimmed hat, and loose, long-sleeved clothes to protect your skin and eyes and stay cool
Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated
Learn more about sunscreen and staying safe, and take a fun quiz to find out how much you know at https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/48609398.

Temperatures are set to rise this week, but how much do you know about staying safe in the sun? Read our guide to find out more...

08/08/2026

07/08/2026

Keeping Active Over the Summer

Exercising can be difficult or even dangerous when the weather is very hot, and can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, or the medical emergency heatstroke. But we know it is important to stay active, so how can you and your children exercise safely this summer?

Choose your time – Exercise early in the morning or later in the evening when it is cooler.
Be careful in water – Open water can still be very cold, and can cause our bodies to go into cold water shock. Enter the water slowly, don’t swim alone, and if you go into shock, lie back in the water with your ears submerged and float to save yourself.
Choose an indoor activity – Many sports centres have air conditioning to keep you cool.
Make a shady space – Create shade with sheets, parasols and sails to keep children out of direct sun while they play outside.
Cool down afterwards – following exercise with wet towels, cool drinks, and sitting in the shade, maybe with a fan, is a good way to make sure you don’t stay too hot for too long.
Find out more about exercising safely at https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20260618-how-keep-exercising-when-its-really-hot and see some family activity ideas at https://purephysiotherapy.co.uk/staying-active-during-the-summer-holidays-with-kids/.

Scientists say it is important to find ways to exercise when temperatures soar to protect your long-term health. Here's how you can keep going when things hot up.

07/08/2026

It’s heating up again… and we know with warm weather, also comes an...

06/08/2026

Water Safety

An average of 328 people in the UK and Ireland lose their lives to accidental drowning every year, and many more have accidents in and around water. The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) has produced the Water Safety Code to help keep you safe this summer, follow the four simple steps:

Stop and Think
Wear bright colours, check for danger and follow safety signs.

Stay together
Never swim alone, keep young children in arm’s reach, tell someone where you’re going.

In an emergency, call 999
Call 999, don't enter the water yourself, instead: Phone. Float. Throw

Phone 999

Throw something to them that floats

Encourage them to Float to Live

Float to Live
Tilt your head back – Keep your airway clear and your ears under the water
Relax and breathe – Fight the urge to panic, try to get your breathing under control
Spread your limbs – Extend your arms and legs to stabilise yourself in the water
Scull if needed: Gently move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat
Wait for help – It is normal if your legs sink (everyone floats differently)
Once your breathing is steady, signal for help or swim to safety

05/08/2026

Summer Stress for Parents

The summer holidays can be a stressful time for parents. Trying to find childcare or activities can be time consuming and expensive, and some parents feel guilty at not being able to give their children ‘the best summer ever’. So what can you do to make your summer less stressful?

Avoid expensive theme parks and attractions. Why not consider:
Small, local animal sanctuaries and attractions that may have much cheaper entry
Free play parks, water play areas, woodland, beaches and riversides
Local cafes, which sometimes have a free play area
Paddling pools, sand pits and garden sports
Cooking or gardening together
Arts and crafts
Play dates, picnics, meet-ups in parks with family and friends
When you need to work, look for cheap local activities being run by schools, churches and youth groups. A lot of camps can be paid for with your Tax-Free Childcare account, so you can get up to 20% off the cost.

If you are struggling with stress, or any other mental health difficulties, the charity Mind has lots of resources specifically aimed at parents. To get ideas, reassurance, help and support, visit

Discover resources to support parents during school holidays. Learn how employers can help working parents manage childcare and reduce stress during breaks.

04/08/2026

Staying Safe in the Sun

This year we are experiencing a very hot summer in the UK. Heat and UV rays can have a significant impact on all our health, causing short-term illness and discomfort, long-term health problems and diseases, and, where care is not taken, or in at-risk groups, death.

Excessive heat can cause heatstroke. Get immediate medical help if someone has the symptoms of heatstroke. You can see the symptoms and what you can do to help and avoid heatstroke at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heat-exhaustion-heatstroke/.

Find out about heat exhaustion and heatstroke, which can happen if you get too hot during hot weather.

03/08/2026

Essential advice on protecting your medicines during extreme heat and staying safe.

03/08/2026

World Breastfeeding Awareness Week, 1st–7th August

The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) aims to empower parents by protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding. Breastfeeding saves the lives of both babies and mothers, and also supports nutrition, development and lifelong health. Breastmilk is a low-cost, locally available nutrition, so it also encourages equality.

This awareness week, everyone is invited to understand and share what is working in countries that are reporting good breastfeeding progress, to help promote a more equal and sustainable start in life for babies worldwide, and a reduction in poverty and better food security for them and their families.

Find out more, and learn about the hashtags you can use to increase awareness on social media at:

will focus on tracking progress and evaluating breastfeeding impact on nutrition, food security and poverty reduction with highlights of successful implementation and lessons learnt. In 2026, the WBW-SDG campaign will enter its third cycle and will focus on tracking progress in Thematic Are...