Signs of heat exhaustion you should not ignore

The tragic death of Dr Michael Mosley has highlighted the dangers of spending time outdoors in extreme heat.

Dr Mosley died aged 67 after hiking for two hours in the searing heat on the Greek island of Symi. Temperatures of 35 to 40 degrees Celsius were recorded on Symi last week.

According to Greek police, the doctor died of “heat exhaustion” after he “sat down and lost consciousness” near a holiday resort.

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READ MORE: CCTV “shows Dr Michael Mosley falling” before he died

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While current temperatures on Merseyside are cooler than average for the season, many of us will be jetting off to warmer climes in the coming weeks.

Heat exhaustion and heatstroke can happen to people of any age and fitness level, but young children and the elderly tend to be most at risk. Being aware of the triggers and signs of the conditions could be a lifesaver.

According to the NHS, heat exhaustion doesn’t usually need emergency medical help if you can cool down within 30 minutes. However, if left untreated and turns into heatstroke, it should be treated as a medical emergency.

Heatstroke is the most serious form of heat illness and is caused by overheating of the body, usually as a result of exposure to high temperatures. It occurs when the body temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius.

When the body gets too hot, it usually sweats to cool down. But if a person is dehydrated, their cooling processes do not work as they should and the body temperature continues to rise. The cells begin to malfunction, which can, in the most extreme cases, trigger organ failure.

Heat stroke causes increased heart rate, rapid breathing, nausea, high body temperature, headache and altered mental behavior.

Heatstroke has the same symptoms as heatstroke, but it occurs when your body overheats after being exposed to too much sunlight. Heat stroke and heat exhaustion, by contrast, can happen indoors in an airless, overheated room.

The British Red Cross says that exercising in the heat and wearing excess clothing that prevents sweat from evaporating easily can make heatstroke more likely. Alcohol consumption and dehydration from lack of water will also increase your chances of getting heatstroke.

NHS advice on heat exhaustion and heatstroke

Symptoms of heat exhaustion are the same in both adults and children and may include: fatigue, dizziness, headache, feeling sick or unwell, excessive sweating and pale, clammy skin, cramps in the arms, legs and stomach, shortness of breath or rapid heartbeat, being very thirsty and weakness.

If someone shows signs of heat exhaustion, they should be cooled and given fluids.

If someone has heat exhaustion, follow these 4 steps:

1. Move them to a cool place.

2. Remove any unnecessary clothing such as a jacket or socks.

3. Have them drink a sports or rehydration drink or cold water.

4. Cool their skin – spray or wash them with cold water and fan them. Cold packs wrapped in a cloth and placed under the armpits or on the neck are also good.

Stay with them until they are better.

It should start to cool down and feel better within 30 minutes.

However, if the person does not feel better after 30 minutes and begins to experience any of the following symptoms, heat exhaustion may have turned into heat stroke.

Call 999 if the person:

– is still bad after 30 minutes of resting in a cool place with a cold and drinking fluids

– has a very high temperature

– has hot skin that does not sweat and may appear red (this may be harder to see on brown and black skin)

– has a fast heartbeat

– has rapid breathing or difficulty breathing

– has confusion and lack of coordination

– has convulsions or convulsions

– suffers loss of consciousness

Put the person in the recovery position if they lose consciousness while you wait for help.

To prevent heat exhaustion or heat stroke:

– drink more cold drinks, especially if you are active or do physical exercises

– wear open, loose clothes

– avoid the sun between 11 am and 3 pm

– avoid excess alcohol

– avoid extreme exercise

– if you are inside on a very hot day, close the curtains, close the windows if it is warmer outside than in your house, and turn off electrical equipment and lights that heat up

This will also prevent dehydration and help the body cool down.