Sun Safey

Heat Exhaustion 

Heat exhaustion is where a person experiences fatigue as a result of a decrease in blood pressure and blood volume. It's caused by a loss of body fluids and salts after being exposed to heat for a prolonged period of time. Someone with heat exhaustion may feel sick, faint and sweat heavily. 

If a person with heat exhaustion is quickly taken to a cool place and is given water to drink, and if excess clothing is removed, they should start to feel better within half an hour and have no long-term complications. However, without treatment, they could develop heatstroke

Symptoms 

Heat exhaustion 

The symptoms of heat exhaustion can develop rapidly. They are: 

very hot skin that feels ‘flushed’

heavy sweating 

dizziness 

extreme tiredness 

nausea 

vomiting

a rapid heartbeat 

confusion

urinating less often and much darker urine than usual 

A person with heat exhaustion should be moved quickly to somewhere cool and given fluids, preferably water, to drink. They should start to feel better within half an hour.

However, certain groups of people are more at risk of getting heatstroke, or developing complications from dehydration, and should be taken to hospital. These include:

children under two years of age 

elderly people

people with kidney, heart or circulation problems

people with diabetes who use insulin

Treatment 

If you suspect someone has heat exhaustion, follow these steps. 

Get them to rest in a cool place – ideally a room with air conditioning or, if this is not possible, somewhere in the shade.

Get them to drink fluids – this should be water or a rehydration drink, such as a sports drink; they should stop taking fluid on board once their symptoms have significantly decreased usually within 2-3 hours. 

Avoid alcohol or caffeine because they can increase levels of dehydration.

Use cool water (not cold) on their skin – if available, use a cool shower or bath to cool them down, otherwise apply a cool, wet flannel or facecloth to their skin.

Loosen clothing and make sure the person gets plenty of ventilation.

Dial 999 to request an ambulance if the person doesn't respond to the treatment within 30 minutes.

Heatstroke

Heatstroke is a more serious condition than heat exhaustion. It occurs when the body's temperature becomes dangerously high due to excessive heat exposure. The body is no longer able to cool itself and starts to overheat.

Suspected heatstroke should always be regarded as a medical emergency, and you should dial 999 to request an ambulance.

While waiting for the ambulance to arrive you should:

immediately move the person to a cool area

increase ventilation by opening windows or using a fan

give water to drink (if the person is conscious), but don't give them medication, such as aspirin or paracetamol

shower their skin with cool, but not cold, water, alternatively, cover their body with cool, damp towels or sheets, or immerse them in cool water (not cold)

Read more about how to treat heatstroke.

Left untreated, heatstroke can lead to complications, such as brain damage and organ failure. It's also possible to die from heatstroke.

Symptoms 

The symptoms of heatstroke can develop over several days in vulnerable people, such as the elderly and those with long-term health problems. These groups are particularly at risk during spells of hot weather. Symptoms develop more quickly when associated with physical activity. This type of heatstroke, known as exertional heatstroke, usually affects young, active people.  

Symptoms of heatstroke include:

high temperature – a temperature of 40°C (104°F) or above is one of the main signs of heatstroke 

heavy sweating that suddenly stops – if the body can't produce any more sweat, the skin will become dry which is a major warning sign that the body has become over-heated and dehydrated

a rapid heartbeat

rapid breathing 

muscle cramps 

The extreme heat that causes heatstroke also affects the nervous system, which can cause other symptoms such as:

confusion

lack of co-ordination

fits 

headache

vertigo 

restlessness or anxiety

problems understanding or speaking to others

seeing or hearing things that aren't real 

loss of consciousness

Heatstroke is a medical emergency. Dial 999 immediately to request an ambulance if you think that you or someone you know has heatstroke.

Treatment 

Always call an ambulance in cases of suspected heatstroke. While you are waiting for the ambulance to arrive, you should:

move the person to a cool area as quickly as possible

increase ventilation by opening windows or using a fan

give them water to drink (if they are conscious), but do not give them medication, such as aspirin or paracetamol

shower their skin with cool, but not cold, water (15-18°C); alternatively, cover their body with cool, damp towels or sheets or immerse them in cool water (not cold)

wait for medical supervision to arrive before fully immersing the person in water because the body’s response could cause them harm

gently massage their skin to encourage circulation

if they have a seizure, move nearby objects out of the way to prevent injury 

if they are unconscious and vomiting, move them into the recovery position by turning them on their side and ensuring their airways are clear

Tips to protect your child from sunburn

Encourage your child to play in the shade – for example, under trees – especially between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its strongest.

Keep babies under the age of six months out of direct sunlight, especially around midday.

Cover exposed parts of your child's skin with sunscreen, even on cloudy or overcast days. 

Use one that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or above and is effective against UVA and UVB. Don't forget to apply it to their shoulders, nose, ears, cheeks and the tops of their feet. Reapply often throughout the day.

Be especially careful to protect your child's shoulders and the back of their neck when they're playing, as these are the most common areas for sunburn.

Cover your child up in loose, baggy cotton clothes, such as an oversized T-shirt with sleeves.

Get your child to wear a floppy hat with a wide brim that shades their face and neck.

If your child is swimming, use a waterproof sunblock of factor 15 or above. Reapply after towelling.

Sunburn

Sunburn is skin damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays. Too much exposure to UV light can make your skin red and painful, which can later lead to peeling or blistering.

The severity of sunburn can vary depending on your skin type and how long you are exposed to UV rays.

However, the main symptoms of sunburn are red, sore and blistering skin. The symptoms may not occur immediately and can take up to five hours to appear.

Symptoms 

The symptoms of sunburn vary from person to person, and depend on your skin type and the length of time you are exposed to UV rays. The paler your skin, the more likely you are to burn compared with someone with darker skin.

The symptoms of sunburn include:

red, sore skin 

skin that is warm and tender to the touch

flaking and peeling skin after a number of days (usually four to seven days after exposure)

Dark skin can also burn and become damaged if exposed to enough UV light. However, as dark skin contains more pigments it can tolerate sunlight without burning for longer than paler skin.

The symptoms of sunburn are not always immediately obvious. They usually begin three to five hours after exposure to the sun's rays, and are usually at their worst 12 to 24 hours after being in the sun.

Severe cases of sunburn can cause:

blistering

swelling of the skin 

chills

a high temperature of 38ºC (100.4ºF) or above

a general feeling of discomfort 

You may also have symptoms of heat exhaustion, such as:

dizziness

headache

nausea 

You should contact your GP surgery if you have severe symptoms of sunburn, if you are burnt over a large area, or if a young child or baby has sunburn.

Treatment 

If you have sunburn, you should avoid direct sunlight by covering up the affected areas of skin and staying in the shade until your sunburn has healed. However, protecting your skin from the sun using sunscreen is better than treating it. Most cases of sunburn can be treated at home by following the advice below.

Water

Cool the skin by sponging it with lukewarm water or by having a cool shower or bath. Applying a cold compress such as a cold flannel to the affected area will also cool your skin.

Drinking plenty of fluids will help to cool you down and will replace water lost through sweating. It will also help prevent dehydration. You should avoid drinking alcohol as it will dehydrate you even more.

Moisturiser

For mild sunburn, apply a moisturising lotion or aftersun cream, available at pharmacies. Aftersun cream will cool your skin and moisturise it, helping to relieve the feeling of tightness.

Moisturisers that contain aloe vera will also help soothe your skin. Calamine lotion can relieve any itching or soreness.

Painkillers

Painkillers can help relieve the pain and reduce the inflammation caused by sunburn.

Paracetamol can be used to treat pain and control fever.

 Ibuprofen is a type of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that can help relieve pain, reduce inflammation and lower a high temperature.

Aspirin should not be given to children who are under the age of 16. 

Severe sunburn

Severe cases of sunburn may require special burn cream and burn dressings. Ask your pharmacist for advice. You may need to have your burns dressed by a nurse at your GP surgery.

Very severe sunburn cases may require treatment at your local A&E department.