As the weather gets warmer, it’s important to know how to keep you, your loved ones and your pets cool this summer. We have put together some helpful tips when the temperature rises.

Take lukewarm or cool showers

• By taking a cooler shower, this can bring your body temperature down.
• By letting yourself air-dry, rather than using a towel, can create a cooling effect on your skin.

During a heatwave, close your windows, curtains and blinds.

• By keeping the windows shut when the country is experiencing a heatwave, it will keep the warmer air out of your home.
• Use blinds and curtains to keep the sunshine out of your rooms.
• When the sun goes down, open the windows to let the cooler air in.
• Stay hydrated.
• Make sure to stay hydrated during the warmer weather. It is recommended adults drink 2 litres of water a day.
• By eating cooler foods such as fruit, cold salads and chilled soups, will not only keep you hydrated, but will also save you from having to use your oven, which could make your home even warmer.

Use an electric fan (and use it well)

• Electric fans are relatively cheap to run and will instantly cool you down.
• Remember, the fan will not decrease the air temperature, so don’t leave a fan in an empty room, as you will waste energy.
• Position your fan either at the same height as you or lower than you. This will ensure the cooler air will reach you, rather than warmer air pushing down on you.

Remember to dress cool

• Try to wear thin, cotton-based loose clothing to stay cool.
• At night, you might think it’s better to not wear anything, but wearing thin loose clothing will act as a sweat barrier between you and your bed sheets, which will help you feel cooler.

Don’t forget your pets!

• Keep pets inside during the hottest hours.
• If you do have your pets outside, make sure they have shade and water.
• Never exercise pets when the temperature is very high. A regular walk could become a medical emergency.
• Never leave your pet in a parked vehicle.
• Always test pavements, footpaths and slabs in gardens and communal areas. If it’s too hot on your hand, it’s too hot for your pet.
• If you see a pet in distress, please contact the RSPCA.

The weather may be warming up, but we must remain vigilant when it comes to fire safety. Most fires in the home start by accident and by carrying out a few simple safety checks you can reduce the chances of a fire starting to keep you and your loved ones safe.

Remember: If there is a fire in your home – get out, stay out and call 999 – don’t try to tackle the fire yourself. 

Things you should do:

• Make sure you know where the fire escape routes are from your home and building.
• If you see an object blocking any of the fire escapes, please move it if it is safe to do so or report it to us.
• Close inside doors at night to stop a fire from spreading. 
• Never store items in communal (shared) areas such as corridors and balconies.
• Make it a habit to keep the exits from your home clear, so that people can escape if there is a fire.
• Check all your smoke alarms work.  You are twice as likely to die in a fire if your smoke alarm does not work. Your local fire service provides free home safety checks and in many cases this may include fitting a free smoke alarm. Fire Officers will also advise you about making your home safer. To get a free safety visit from your local fire service, contact the London Fire Brigade on 08000 28 44 28. 
• Turn off and unplug all electrical appliances unless they are designed to be left on, like a freezer.  
• Do not leave the washing machine on as that can potentially start a fire.  
• Check your cooker is off.  Gas cookers are harder to notice so double check. 
• Turn heaters off and put up fireguards too if you have them.  
• Put candles, naked flames and cigarettes out properly. It is much safer to smoke outside and ensure they are put out properly in an ashtray. Make sure candles or naked flames are secured in a proper holder and away from materials that may catch fire – like curtains. 
• Make sure that everyone in your home can easily find the keys for doors and windows – always keep them in the same place.
• Keep mirrors and other reflective materials like glass and crystal away from sunny windows as the reflection can start a blaze.

Fire doors

We check flat entrance doors and communal doors routinely to ensure compliance with safety regulations.

• Never leave fire doors wedged open, they need to remain closed.
• Do not tamper with self-closing devices on fire doors.
• Please report any faults or damage to fire doors immediately.

Keeping your balcony safe:

• Never barbecue on your balcony, sparks can fall to the homes below.
• Don’t keep paints, paint thinners or fuel on your balcony.
• If smoking on your balcony, dispose of smoking materials responsibly and do not flick lit cigarettes from a balcony. Use safety ash trays to extinguish cigarettes.

How can I keep fire safe? 

You can keep fire safe by: 

• giving our staff and contractors access to your home so they can carry-out fire related maintenance and undertake fire risk assessments. 
• looking after doors and windows on escape routes so they can be easily and quickly opened in case of a fire. This includes keeping doors closed (unless they are doors designed to be held open on magnetic devices) and not wedging them open. 
• not changing your flat’s front door, as this acts as a key line of defence in preventing the spread of fire. 
• not smoking in communal areas and generally taking care when smoking. 
• keeping escape routes and communal areas clear by not storing belongings in communal areas and in particular keeping stairwells free of obstacles. This will ensure people can get out of the building quickly. 
• familiarise yourself with the escape plan for your building. If you are not sure of this, please contact us. 

For more fire safety advice, visit the London Fire Brigade website at www.london-fire.gov.uk 

If you discover a fire:

• raise the alarm
• leave the building immediately by the nearest available exit if it is safe to do so
• move to a safe distance away from the building
• phone the Fire Brigade by dialling 999 
• remain a safe distance away from the building and await the Fire Brigade.

If the fire is in your home:

• tell everyone in your home and get them to leave the building closing your front door behind you
• move to a safe distance away from the building
• call the Fire Brigade by dialling 999 asking for FIRE
• remain a safe distance away from the building and await the Fire Brigade
• if you see or hear of a fire in another part of the building stay put in your home as this will usually be the safest option unless you are directly affected by the fire. Close all windows and be prepared to leave
• phone the Fire Brigade by dialling 999 asking for FIRE
• you must leave the building immediately if smoke or fire directly affects your home or you are directed to do so by the Fire Brigade. Close your front door behind you
• move to a safe distance away from the building, remain there and await the Fire Brigade.

Remember:

• Do not take risks.
• Do no stop to collect personal belongings.
• Do not return to the building for any reason unless authorised to do so.
• Do not use any lift.

The weather is starting to warm up, which means it’s the perfect time to have a BBQ with friends and family in the sunshine. Barbecuing can be dangerous, so we have put together some tips to keep you and loved ones safe this summer.

• Never use a barbecue (including disposables) indoors or on your balcony.
• Keep children, garden games and pets well away from the cooking area.
• Don’t cook in communal areas. Have your barbecues in a private space, away from neighbours and well away from sheds, fences, trees or shrubs.
• Have a fire extinguisher close to hand and know how to use it. You also need to know how to cut the gas supply, and it’s useful to know how to treat burns.
• Never leave your barbecue unattended.
• Smoke can get into hair, clothes, eyes and lungs, and can also contain carbon monoxide and other dangerous substances. Try and keep your distance as much as possible.
• Grilling gloves and utensils with a long handle will keep arms and hands safe from flames.
• Wash your hands before preparing food, after touching raw meat and before eating.
• Check your food is cooked: ideally, burgers, chicken and sausages should be tested with a thermometer before eating and no pink meat should be visible.
• After you have finished cooking, check the charcoal is cold or the gas has been turned off. Store your barbecue in a safe, dry place and not on your balcony.
• Remember to clean up your barbecue after using to avoid any pests.

If you have an emergency while having a barbecue, please call 999.

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and the theme for this year is ‘Movement – Moving more for our mental health.’

Movement is important for our mental health but when life is busy many of us struggle to find the time and move enough. Exercise can help reduce anxiety and depression while also preventing physical illnesses.

This year Mental Health Awareness Week want to encourage people to find opportunities to move in their daily routines. This could be going for a walk, dancing around your kitchen while the kettle boils, chair exercises while watching your favourite TV show and much more, as it all counts!

For more ideas to help get you moving, please visit: Movement and mental health – Mental Health UK (mentalhealth-uk.org)

If you are struggling with your mental health or want someone to talk to, here are a list of charities and support organisations that can help:

• www.mind.org.uk
• www.mentalhealth-uk.org
• www.rethink.org
• www.nhs.uk/mental-health

Sun Awareness Week marks the start of the British Association of Dermatologists summer campaign to highlight the importance of sun protection.

Here are some tips to keep you safe this summer to help you protect your skin from sunburn and the risk of skin cancer:

• Use a ‘high protection’ sunscreen of at least SPF 30 which also has UVA protection. Make sure you apply a generous amount and frequently, especially if you work or spend a lot of time outdoors.
• Protect your skin by wearing a t-shirt and protect your face by wearing sunglasses and a hat.
• Spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm as this is when the sun is strongest.
• Keep babies and young children out of direct sunlight.
• Make sure to drink plenty of water.
• If there are any changes to a mole on your skin, book an appointment with your doctor to make sure everything is ok.

For further information, please click here: www.skinhealthinfo.org.uk/sun-awareness/

We are proud to announce Wandle has been awarded ‘We invest in people’ Silver Accreditation from Investors in People.

Investors in People developed the accreditation over 30 years ago to assess how well organisations support, develop and lead their employees. It provides a standard for organisations to evaluate themselves against the best in the business to help create better and more productive workplaces.

Our silver accreditation means we have the right principles in place, while continuing to take the next steps to ensure there is consistency for all our people and leaders.

To achieve the award our employees were asked to submit a survey to Investors in People and take part in assessment meetings. We also submitted a range of supporting evidence to the Practitioner.

Feedback from our employees’ included Wandle was a great place to work and our people are excited to be a part of the company’s future. People felt supported in developing their skills, loved the work culture and recognised there was a clear vision for the organisation, with leaders actively involving our people to achieve our goals.

Paul Devoy, CEO of Investors in People, said: “We’d like to congratulate Wandle Housing Association. Silver accreditation on ‘We invest in people’ is a remarkable effort for any organisation, and places Wandle in fine company with a host of organisations that understand the value of people.”

Anne Waterhouse, Chief Executive Officer of Wandle said, ‘We are delighted to have received a Silver Accreditation from Investors in People. I am proud of our achievements and this is a testament to all our colleagues who embody our values to ensure we achieve our objective of employer of choice. We are currently planning further investment in leadership and will use this award as a platform to continue to improve our offer and outcomes using colleagues’ feedback.’

Most of us are worried about the cost-of-living situation and half term may seem like another hurdle to overcome. However, taking your children out in London or to a restaurant doesn’t need to be expensive. We have put together a list of free and low cost activities, as well as places where kids can eat for £1 or less, to help you enjoy this half term without the worry.

Free activities in London

• Young V&A
• Natural History Museum
• Science Museum
• London Transport Museum
• Museum of London
• Hackey City Farm
• Mudchute Park and Farm
• Kentish Town City Farm
• Battersea Park
• Crystal Palace Park

Activities in south London

• Terrible Histories Walk in Deptford: Child £1 / Adult £2 on Wednesday 14 February.
• Mystery Makers at Albany Theatre: Pay what you decide on Thursday 15 February.
• Children’s festival at the Southbank Centre venues: Now until Saturday 17 February.
• The Kid’s Table in Peckham: Admission is free.

Kids eat free or less than a £1

• Ikea: Kids can enjoy pasta and tomato sauce with a piece of fruit and soft drink for just 45p every Friday from 11am in Ikea restaurants.
• Morrisons: Kids under 16 can eat for free at any Morrisons café when an adult spends £4.50.
• Pausa Café at Dunelm: Kids can eat for free when an adult spends £4.
• Bella Italia: Kids can get a three course meal for just £1 with every adult main meal.
• Asda Café: Kids eat for £1 in Asda family cafes. No minimum spend required.
• Angus Steakhouse: Kids eat for free with every adults main meal.
• Hungry Horse: Kids eat for £1 every Monday.
• Sainsburys Café: Kids eat for £1 with every adult main meal.

Today is safer internet day and the theme this year is ‘inspiring change’. This annual celebration helps raise awareness of online safety, especially for children and young people.

Technology is developing each year and with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) it’s even more important to remain vigilant online.

As parents and carers, one of the best ways we can keep children safe is by continuing to talk to them about the importance of internet safety.

There are many resources available online to help keep your family safe. These include:

• Online wellbeing
• Parental controls
• Reporting online safety concerns
• Social media
• Apps
• Online bullying
• Live streaming
• Downloading
• Video chat and webcams

You can find more information and resources here:

Keeping children safe online | NSPCC

Help & advice | Childnet

Resources – Safer Internet Day

Time to Talk Day takes place today and is the UK’s biggest mental health conversation. It’s a day for us to talk and listen to our friends, families, colleagues and communities.

Talking about mental health is not always easy and sometimes it’s difficult to spot when someone is going through a challenging time.

Mind and Rethink Mental Illness have provided conversation tips to help us get talking.

• Ask questions and listen
• Think about the time and place
• Don’t try and fix it
• Treat them the same
• Be patient

Due to the cost of living crisis, more people are experiencing mental health problems for the first time and those who have already had a mental health problem are struggling more. It is important to talk about your worries and concerns, but it is also important to get practical support. Mind has provided information that might be useful.

They have also provided activities you can do with your friends, families and colleagues to help get you talking, including Interactive Bingo and True or False.

If you or someone you know is struggling, support is always available from your doctor, Mind, Rethink Mental Illness and the NHS. If it is urgent, please call 999.

We are supporting Register My Appliance week.

Register my appliance is a public safety campaign to help and encourage people to register their household appliances.

In small cases manufacturers may identify a problem with one of their products. Registering your household appliances, helps manufacturers know where the products are in case a repair is needed or if it is recalled.

You could also save money by registering your appliances as it entitles you to an extended guarantee or warranty period. 

You can find out more information here:

Website: www.registermyappliance.org.uk

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