The recent tragic death of Dr. Michael Mosely highlighted the dangers of under-estimating the danger of the sun during hot weather. Whilst in England we do not normally have higher than average temperatures during most of the summer, heatwaves in Europe are becoming increasingly common. We all look forward to an overseas summer holiday where hot weather is guaranteed but we do need to take care. I would hope that the majority of members know how to protect themselves in the sun but may not know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke so find below what you have to watch out for in yourself and others and what to do if you spot any of the signs.
The signs of heat exhaustion include:
If someone has heat exhaustion, follow these 4 steps:
- 1Move them to a cool place.
- 2Remove all unnecessary clothing like a jacket or socks.
- 3Get them to drink a sports or rehydration drink, or cool water.
- 4Cool 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.
- 5Stay with them until they’re better.
- 6They 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.
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.
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