It seems that we are in the middle of our third heat wave so far this summer. Whilst in England we do not normally have higher than average temperatures during most of the summer, heatwaves are becoming increasingly common. Whilst most of us welcome the sunshine, I hope that the majority of members know how to protect themselves in the sun.
What members might not know are the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Below you can find out what to look for in someone suffering from heat exhaustion, yourself included, and what to do if you spot any of the signs.
The signs of heat exhaustion include:
- tiredness
- dizziness
- headache
- feeling sick or being sick
- excessive sweating and skin becoming pale and clammy or getting a heat rash, but a change in skin colour can be harder to see on brown and black skin
- cramps in the arms, legs and stomach
- fast breathing or heartbeat
- a high temperature
- being very thirsty
- weakness
If someone has heat exhaustion, follow these 4 steps:
- Move them to a cool place.
- Remove all unnecessary clothing like a jacket or socks.
- Get them to drink a sports or rehydration drink, or cool water.
- Cool their skin – spray or sponge them with cool water and fan them. Cold packs, wrapped in a cloth and put under the armpits or on the neck are good too.
STAY WITH THEM
They should start to cool down and feel better within 30 minutes. If this doesn’t happen then you need to call for emergency medical help.
More information available @
