AS the heatwave goes on, admittances to East Surrey Hospital have risen with the mercury.
Nationwide, health bosses are warning more than 700 people have died since the hot weather began topping 30 degrees C.
East Surrey Hospital revealed today ten people rushed to the accident and emergency department suffering with sunburn in the first 18 days of July - double the total for the whole of June.
It comes after the specialist burns unit at Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead revealed it had seen ten babies with sunburn, including one aged just four weeks.
The total number of people turning up at A&E has risen too, 300 more patients through the door than for the same period last month.
However, hospital bosses have said the rise cannot be put down to the heat.
Hospital spokeswoman Eloise Clarke said the numbers of people being treated for sunburn was "low" because it is not a condition which often requires urgent treatment.
"People with sunburn should ask their pharmacist for advice, or see their GP if they have sunburn and feel faint, dehydrated or have severe blistering," she said. "If the GP surgery is closed they should call the GP telephone number to hear a message about who to contact for medical advice or call 111.
"Sunburn symptoms such as red, sore and blistering skin can take up to five hours to appear. Treatment for sunburn aims to cool the skin and relieve any pain or symptoms. Applying a cold flannel over the area will help cool the skin while moisturising lotions and creams will help to keep it moist. Moisturisers that contain aloe vera will help to soothe your skin and calamine lotion can relieve any itching or soreness."
"We have seen an increase in the number of attendances this month compared to June," she added.
"The increase we have seen is made up of 65 per cent adults between 18 and 65 years, and 35 per cent children – most of whom were not admitted. So far the three most common injuries and illnesses we treated are broadly the same as previous months: soft tissue injuries, head injuries and fractures or sprains – so despite some increases in the treatment of dehydration and sunburn, most attendances are not suffering from anything directly caused by the sun or heat."
