Worcestershire charities urge people to be safe around water and to look after pets during high temperatures
Temperatures could be set to reach as high as 28 degrees across the UK this week
With temperatures set to rise again across parts of Herefordshire and Worcestershire today (Wednesday 30 April) and tomorrow, a Worcester water safety charity are calling for people to take extra care around open water.
The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) are urging people to stay safe near open water while Dogs Trust Evesham are also reminding owners to look after their pet during the heat.
It's as the Met Office have warned us it is set to be the warmest spell of the year so far this week for the UK, with temperatures expected to reach 28 degrees in some parts.
In Herefordshire and Worcestershire, temperatures could reach up to 26 degrees in areas today and possibly 28 degrees tomorrow, with the pollen count also set to remain very high.
Matt Croxall is interim director of the Royal Life Saving Society who are based in Worcester and he says even though the weather is warm, the water might not be.
"Often there’s a big difference then between the air temperature and the water temperature so that can cause what is known as cold water shock," he said.
"Our research shows that on average when temperatures are between 21-23 degrees, drownings are two and half times more likely compared to the cooler days of the year below 17 degrees.
"With the sun being out and the forecast looking good for warm weather over the next few days, at the Royal Life Saving Society we are just reminding people to stay safe and to arm themselves with our water safety knowledge."
Further advice on how people can stay safe when taking part in open water safety swimming can be found on the RLSS website.
Pet advice
Dog owners across Herefordshire and Worcestershire are also being reminded to make sure they are keeping their dogs safe during the warm weather.
Aideen O'Connor is a senior veterinary surgeon at Dogs Trust which covers the Evesham branch of the charity and she says people need to avoid walking their pet in the hottest parts of the day and aim to the cooler times in the early mornings or late evenings.
"Heatstroke can be fatal so we need to be so carful in the warmer weather," she said.
"Flat faced breeds such as the English Bulldog, pugs and French Bulldogs are even more susceptible.
"An important thing to be aware of is that most cases are linked to exercise and two-thirds of reported heatstroke cases occur following a simple everyday walk, so we are advising that owners are mindful as to when they walk their dog over the next few days.
More information for dog owners on how they can keep their pet safe can be found over on the Dogs Trust website.