Guild nurses regularly travel long distances to support clients. In the hot summer days this can be particularly uncomfortable, so we’ve put together some handy tips to help you stay cool when travelling to work:

• Keep hydrated At the very least, you should be drinking 2 litres of water a day. In the summer months, you may need more to stay hydrated. We know how busy it can be when you arrive on shift but try and remember to drink water at every opportunity.
• Avoid caffeine Tea and coffee can dehydrate you in the heat. Switch to water or squash instead.
• Wear a hat when outdoors If you’re walking to work, try and wear a hat. This will protect your head, ears and face from the sun. If your journey is particularly long, you should also wear sun cream.
• Wear loose clothing when travelling Travel to work in light clothes and change into your uniforms when you arrive. Remember, uniforms shouldn’t be worn to and from work for infection control reasons.
• Invest in a cool box Cool boxes are great for keeping your food fresh and drinks cool when travelling long distances.
• Avoid big meals Try to eat little and often on very hot days. This will make you feel less lethargic and will also keep you cool. The body creates heat when trying to digest large meals and on a very hot day, you definitely don’t need more heat!