The Met Office Urges People to Check Pollen and UV Levels Before Heading Outdoors
A warning has been issued by the Met Office, urging people to check pollen and UV levels before venturing outdoors today. The weather agency took to social media to share a map indicating the pollen and UV levels across the UK, advising people to take necessary precautions to protect themselves.
According to the Met Office, pollen levels are currently high, with tree pollen affecting around 25% of people, typically occurring from late March to mid-May. Grass pollen, which most people are allergic to, lasts from mid-May until July, while weed pollen can be released at any time but typically covers the end of June to September. The Met Office says hay fever will start at different times dependent on where you live, with a later start and shorter season in the north of the UK. Urban areas have lower counts than the countryside, and places inland have higher counts than around the coast.
The Liverpool ECHO reports that there is currently no cure for hay fever, and you cannot prevent it, but there are things that can be done to help when pollen count is high. The NHS advises putting Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen, wearing wrap-around sunglasses to stop pollen getting into eyes and nose, and showering and changing clothes after being outside. You can also keep your windows shut as much as possible and vacuum regularly to remove pollen. If you suffer from hay fever, you should speak to your pharmacist, who can offer advice and suggest the best treatments.
The Met Office warning also concerned UV levels, with the weather agency advising people to take steps to ensure they are protected from increased UV levels. UV rays are invisible and cannot be felt on the skin, but they can cause sunburn, skin ageing, eye damage, and skin cancer. According to the Association of Optometrists, 40% of adults are unaware that UV rays can contribute to cataracts, macular degeneration, and even eye cancer. Therefore, it’s essential that you protect your eyes from the sun.
The Met Office says it is essential to take precautions when spending time outdoors, especially during peak sun hours. On its website, the Met Office says: “It is essential that, if you are in an area that is particularly sunny over the next few days, you take steps to ensure that you and your family are protected from these increased UV levels. You can also get UV forecasts for UK and worldwide locations on the Met Office app for the next 7 days.”
The NHS says there are things you can do to help ease symptoms of sunburn, including getting out of the sun as soon as possible, cooling skin with a cold shower or bath, applying after-sun cream, and drinking plenty of water. However, there are also things you shouldn’t do if you have sunburn, including not popping any blisters, not using petroleum jelly on sunburnt skin, not putting ice or ice packs on sunburnt skin, not scratching or removing peeling skin, and not wearing tight-fitting clothing over sunburnt skin.
The Met Office has provided a pollen forecast for the UK today, showing high levels of pollen across the country. The forecast shows that pollen levels are particularly high in the south and east of England, with moderate levels in other parts of the country. The Met Office has also provided a UV forecast for today, showing high levels of UV radiation across the UK. The forecast shows that UV levels are particularly high in the south and west of England, with moderate levels in other parts of the country.
Original source: Liverpool ECHO
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