Well, it’s good to be prepared and earlier this year the Department of Health produced its annual heatwave plan, which aims to raise public and professional awareness on how to prepare in case of severe hot weather and potential heatwaves. The Plan is written in partnership with the Health Protection Agency and supported by the Met Office. One of its aims is to outline the steps people can take to protect their own health, and to reduce the risks of illness and death in the most vulnerable people.

It is a cruel irony that the plan landed on desks when the rain was battering the windows and we are having the wettest summer on record.

This year however, the DH has commissioned Inspired Services to produce an easy read version of the plan, and this was recently circulated.

We at the Elf thought you might be interested in taking a look and sharing with your organisations and any vulnerable people you support.

Let us know what you think of the plan (but not what you think of the weather) and keep safe in the sun!

Easy Read Heatwave plan 2012, Department of Health, Health Protection Agency