It is shaping up to be quite a summer. After record-breaking temperatures in late June, another heatwave is building right now across southern and eastern England with forecasts suggesting it could reach 34C this week.
And whether you are working in a clinic, a lab, a community setting, or anywhere in between, you are working through it.

We just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge that, and to say something that does not always get said enough.

Please look after yourself today.

It is easier to forget than you think
Healthcare professionals are exceptionally good at focusing outward. It is one of the things that makes you so good at what you do. But in a heatwave, that outward focus can mean your own hydration, energy levels, and general wellbeing quietly slip down the priority list without you even noticing.

By the time you feel thirsty, you are already mildly dehydrated. And even mild dehydration has real effects on how you feel and function. Concentration dips, fatigue creeps in earlier than it should, and the mental sharpness your work demands becomes that little bit harder to sustain. It does not hit dramatically. It just makes everything slightly harder than it needs to be.

You work too hard to give yourself that disadvantage.

Some simple things that help:
- You do not need a complicated routine. Just a few small habits that are easy to fit into your working day:
- Start your day with a full water bottle and keep it visible. Not in your bag, actually in front of you. Out of sight really does mean out of mind when you are busy
- Drink little and often throughout the day rather than trying to catch up at the end of a shift or between appointments. Small amounts consistently go a long way
- Watch out for the early signs in yourself. A headache that builds through the day, feeling foggy or irritable, or noticing your urine is darker than usual are all signals worth paying attention to
- Do not rely on tea and coffee as your main fluid source. Caffeine has a mild diuretic effect and while the odd cup is not going to cause problems, it should not be substituting water on a hot day
- On your break, reach for water-rich foods where you can. Fruit, salad, and yoghurt all contribute to your fluid intake and can feel a lot more appealing than a hot meal when it is already warm
- If you are out and about between appointments or visits, carry more water than you think you need and try to stay out of direct sun during the hottest part of the day where your schedule allows

Look out for your colleagues too
It is easy in a busy working environment for everyone to be so focused on getting through the day that nobody checks in on the team.

The colleague who seems quieter than usual. The one who has skipped their break again. A simple check-in takes thirty seconds and can make more difference than you might expect.

One last thing
You do not need us to tell you that staying hydrated matters. You already know that. This is just a gentle reminder that in the middle of a busy working day in a heatwave, it is easy to let the basics slip.

So keep your water bottle close, take your breaks, and look out for each other.

From all of us at Mediplacements.