Heatwave - Heatstroke - Heat Exhaustion

Health Alert as temperatures set to soar this week across the East of England. Do you know the difference between Heatstroke and Heat Exhaustion?

Signs and Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion include;

• Feeling tired or weak

• Dizziness and/or headcahes

• Feeling nauseous or vomiting

• Excessive sweating

• Breathing quicker

• Feeling thirsty

  First Aid steps for Heat Exhaustion are:

• Moving the person to a shady and cool space

• Helping them to cool down with cool drinks, or rehydrate with a sports/rehydration drink, placing covered cool packs on the neck or under the arms, spraying them with cool water

• lossening clothing

Heat stroke is a medical emergency. If you are worried someone has heat stroke - call 999

It occurs as a result of the brain’s thermostat (temperature control centre) not working properly. This causes the body to become overheated. Signs and symptoms include;

• Feeling dizzy and/ or confused

• Restless or unusual behaviour

• Decrease in normal alertness level

• Headaches

• Raised body temperature

• Hot, flushed and dry skin (no longer sweating)

• Seek help if their condition has

Heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke if not recognised and treated accordingly.

First Aid steps for Heat Stroke are;

• Moving the person to a shady and cool space

• Removing outer clothing

• Cool the person down by wrapping them in a cool wet sheet

• Keep observing them

• Once temperature has returned to normal you can stop cooling them and replace wet sheet with a dry one.