Most of us welcome hot weather, but when it's very hot for a long time there are health risks.

We have seen some lovely weather so far this summer, unfortunately that seems to have given way to some cloudy weather at the moment.

However, when the sunshine returns make sure you take steps to ensure the hot weather doesn't harm you or anyone you know.

Follow these sun safety tips:

  • Seek Shade

Spend time in the shade when the sun is strongest. In the UK, this is between 11am and 3pm from March to October.

Make sure you don't burn, cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses and take extra care with children.

NHS England recommends you use at least factor 30 sunscreen.

  • Hydrate

By the time you start feeling thirsty, you are already becoming dehydrated. To avoid becoming severely dehydrated you should drink water or non-alcoholic fluid at regular intervals.

You should aim to drink about 1.5 - 2 litres (about 8-10 200ml glasses) of fluid per day to stay hydrated.

Remember to drink more when you spend time in hot environments, or when you exercise or increase your activity levels. You should always carry water when travelling.

  • Protect your skin

Low cost, highly rated 4 or 5 star sun protection products are available at budget supermarkets.

Make sure you put enough sunscreen on – people often apply much less than they need to. When your risk of burning is high, apply sunscreen evenly and thickly. As a guide for an adult this means around two teaspoonful’s of sunscreen if you're just covering your head, arms and neck.

Reapply sunscreen regularly, including ‘once a day’ and ‘water resistant’ products.

Sunscreen can rub, sweat or wash off. It’s especially important to reapply after towelling dry. And reapplying helps avoid missing bits of skin.

Don’t store sunscreens in very hot places as extreme heat can ruin their protective chemicals.

Check the expiry date on your sunscreen. Look for a symbol on the pot with the letter M and a number which shows the number of months the sunscreen will last once opened.