As Britain faces record breaking temperatures, there is a warning that the heat can affect our health. Heat exhaustion and heatstroke is brought on by the weather and can be dangerous.
People have been warned of the danger signs to look out for which can be 'life saving'. The NHS say heat exhaustion is not usually serious if you cool down within 30 minutes.
The danger comes if heat exhaustion turns into heatstroke and it needs to be treated as an emergency. Below outlines the signs of heat exhaustion and when to seek medical help.
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Signs of heat exhaustion
The signs of heat exhaustion can often be the same in adults and children. These include:
- a headache
- dizziness and confusion
- loss of appetite and feeling sick
- excessive sweating and pale, clammy skin
- cramps in the arms, legs and stomach
- fast breathing or pulse
- a high temperature of 38C or above
- being very thirsty
Children can also become floppy and sleepy. If someone is showing these signs, they need to be cooled down straight away.
How to cool someone down
If it is clear someone has heat exhaustion, then you need to follow these steps:
- Move them to a cool place.
- Get them to lie down and raise their feet slightly.
- Get them to drink plenty of water. Sports or rehydration drinks are OK.
- Cool their skin – spray or sponge them with cool water and fan them. Cold packs around the armpits or neck are good, too.
You need to stay with the person until they feel better. They should start to cool down within 30 minutes.
When to get medical help
You must call 999 if you or someone else have signs of heatstroke including:
- fast breathing or shortness of breath
- a fit (seizure)
- loss of consciousness
- not responsive
Put the person in the recovery position if they lose consciousness while you're waiting for help.
You can contact 111 if you have the following heatstroke signs:
- feeling unwell after 30 minutes of resting in a cool place and drinking plenty of water
- not sweating even while feeling too hot
- a high temperature of 40C or above
- feeling confused
How to prevent heat exhaustion and heatstroke
The risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke is high during hot weather and exercise. You need to keep an eye on children, the elderly and people with long-term health conditions (like diabetes or heart problems) because they're more at risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
To help prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke:
- drink plenty of cold drinks, especially when exercising
- take cool baths or showers
- wear light-coloured, loose clothing
- sprinkle water over skin or clothes
- avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm
- avoid excess alcohol
- avoid extreme exercise
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