As the weather gets hotter and the sun makes more of an appearance, many Britons will be keen to get outside and soak it up. However, spending too much time in high temperatures can lead to heat stroke.
You should also look out for more intense symptoms, as these could signify the condition has worsened to heat stroke.
The signs and symptoms of heat stroke include:
- 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
- fast breathing or shortness of breath
- feeling confused
- a fit (seizure)
- loss of consciousness
- not responsive
How to cool someone down
The NHS recommends four key steps to cool someone down if you think they may have heat exhaustion.
You should move the person to a cool place out of the sun.
Get them to lie down and raise their feet slightly.
Make sure they drink plenty of water. The NHS says sports or rehydration drinks are also okay.
Try to cool the person’s skin by spritzing or sponging them with cool water. You can also use a fan or apply cold packs to the armpits and neck.
Make sure you never leave a person alone during this time.
