Measles cases are on the rise in the UK. Vaccination is vital to protect both your own children and those around you who are vulnerable.

Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent many infectious diseases, and while anti-vaccine stories are often spread on social media, these may not be based on scientific evidence and could put your child at risk of a serious illness.

Facts:

• Vaccines do not cause autism – studies have found no evidence of a link between the MMR vaccine and autism
• They do not overload or weaken the immune system
• Vaccines undergo rigorous safety testing before being introduced – they’re also constantly monitored for side effects

If people are not vaccinated, serious illnesses can spread. Measles can lead to life-threatening complications like meningitis, and may even be fatal. Book your child’s vaccine today.

Did you know that August is Hair Loss Awareness Month? You may not know this, but it’s normal to lose around 50-110 hairs per day.

Normally losing extra hair is nothing to worry about, but excessive loss can be a sign of an underlying condition, such as stress, iron deficiency or weight loss. It can also be a side effect of cancer treatment. There are often a range of treatment options available, and you may be able to access support if the loss is impacting on your wellbeing and confidence.

If you’re worried, it’s important to speak to your Doctor.

https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/hair-loss/

Psoriasis affects people of all genders, races and ages, and can appear on various parts of the body at any time. No one really knows what causes it and that’s why it’s so important to understand how to manage it effectively when symptoms arise.

Coping with psoriasis can be challenging, but there are lots of tips and ideas to help treat the condition from medication to holistic, complementary and alternative therapies, dietary adjustments and lifestyle changes.

This year’s theme for National Allotment Week is “Allotments and Wellbeing” – a perfect reminder of how tending to a plot of land can do wonders for your mind, body and plate.

Physical health – Digging, planting and weeding help to keep you active
Mental health – Fresh air, peace, tranquillity and growth all help to create a sense of peace
Nutritional health – Seasonal vegetables and fruit packed with nutrients from your own plot

Whether you’re a seasoned grower or just getting started, your allotment is more than soil and seeds; it’s a sanctuary for your wellbeing!
https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-start-an-allotment/

It’s the school summer holidays and parents often find themselves managing work, noise and much more! Juggling parenting with other responsibilities can make you feel overwhelmed. It’s really important to consider your own wellbeing, to prevent you feeling a little burnt out. Parental self-care is super important, yet often it’s more likely to be neglected during the summer break.

Consider taking up a new physical activity, meet some friends in a park for a chat and a playdate, or find local fun days to attend. The six weeks will fly by!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zx64r2p

https://www.bacp.co.uk/news/news-fr...-can-take-the-stress-out-of-the-summer-break/

This summer we’ve experienced temperatures far exceeding previous years, and it doesn’t look set to end anytime soon.

Hot weather can cause health issues in the young and vulnerable, and can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, lung problems and other diseases. People with underlying medical conditions can also be vulnerable to the effects of hot weather.

It’s important for everyone to take a few steps to keep cool when the heat rises:

• Drink plenty of clear fluids throughout the day; don’t wait until you’re thirsty
• Limit alcohol intake
• Avoid caffeine; opt for water or juices
• If you’re going to do a physical activity, plan to do this during times of the day when it’s cooler
• Stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day
• If you do go outside, cover up with suitable clothing such as an appropriate hat and sunglasses, seek shade and apply sunscreen
• Keep your home cool by closing windows and curtains in rooms that face the sun

Keep an eye on those around you for any signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke; they may need rapid treatment so it’s important to know the signs: https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...e-heat-staying-safe-in-hot-weather#exhaustion

Aged 17 to 65?

Generally fit and well?

Weigh more than 7st 12lbs (50kg) and less than 25st (158kg)?

You could help by donating blood as stocks are critically low.

Giving blood

You can give blood at thousands of donation venues across England, from permanent donor centres to pop-up community venues.

More about giving blood

Giving plasma

You can give plasma (part of your blood that can make life-saving medicines) at 3 donation venues in England:

• Birmingham
• Reading
• Twickenham

More about giving plasma

Information: 

Note that you can't donate blood and plasma at the same appointment.

If you have a baby under six months of age, it can be really difficult to know whether you need to make a medical appointment, or whether you can safely look after your baby at home. The Lullaby Trust built an app to help parents of young babies to know the difference:
https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/baby-check-app/

National Weaning Week, 12th – 16th May

Babies are usually ready to start trying their first solid foods when they reach six months of age. Giving your baby a wide variety of normal family foods can encourage habits for life, but we do need to make sure we’re careful as some foods such as salt and honey aren’t suitable for very young children.
https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/weaning/how-to-start-weaning-your-baby/

If you’re caring for someone at risk of going missing, you might want to have a look at the Herbert Protocol. Named after a war veteran called George Herbert, the Herbert Protocol helps you to establish information about someone who’s at risk before they go missing.

In the event that they later do go missing, you’re able to quickly share the information with the police force.

We’ve linked some national information below, but you’ll be able to find the information for your local police force and their forms by carrying out an internet search. The police will ask additional questions about what happened if/when the individual goes missing, but having the protocol ready helps you to think about important information beforehand when you’re not in a moment of intense stress.

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-s...gether-magazine/scheme-support-missing-people

The safety initiative ‘Ask for Angela’ is being rolled out to bars, clubs and other licensed businesses across England.

People who feel unsafe, vulnerable or threatened can discreetly seek help by approaching venue staff and asking them for ‘Angela’. This code-phrase will indicate to staff that they require help with their situation and a trained member of staff will then look to support and assist them. This might be through reuniting them with a friend, seeing them to a taxi, or by calling venue security and/or the police. 

Venues that support ‘Ask for Angela’ have been given Welfare And Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE) training. Delivered by the Met’s licensing officers and Safer Sounds partnership, it gives staff the ability to help customers who may be in a situation that makes them vulnerable or unsafe.

For more information about the scheme, visit: https://askforangela.co.uk/