As temperatures soar across the UK, with some areas expected to reach 40°C, the NHS and Met Office are urging people to recognise the signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. While heat exhaustion can often be treated by cooling down, heatstroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.
What is Heat Exhaustion?
Heat exhaustion occurs when the body loses salt and water, acting as a warning system. The NHS states that it usually does not require emergency medical help if the person can be cooled down within 30 minutes. However, if left untreated, it can progress to heatstroke.
Symptoms include tiredness, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, excessive sweating with pale clammy skin (note: skin colour changes may be harder to see on brown or black skin), cramps in arms, legs and stomach, high temperature, extreme thirst, and irritability.
What is Heatstroke?
Heatstroke is a failure of the body's thermostat, according to the British Red Cross. It happens when the body cannot control its temperature, and without rapid treatment, it can lead to organ damage and death. The NHS warns that anyone with signs of heatstroke should seek immediate medical help.
Symptoms include a very high temperature, hot skin without sweating, fast breathing and fast heartbeat, confusion and restlessness, seizures (fits), and loss of consciousness.
Key Differences Between Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke
According to the Red Cross, heatstroke feels very different from heat exhaustion. A person with heat exhaustion typically has a body temperature around normal or slightly high, while someone with heatstroke has a dangerously high body temperature, potentially above 40°C.
Mental state also differs: heatstroke can cause confusion and loss of consciousness, whereas heat exhaustion usually leaves the person tired and dizzy but still alert. Pulse may be fast but weak in heat exhaustion, while heatstroke results in a strong pulse. Skin signs vary: heat exhaustion leads to pale, sweaty skin, while heatstroke may cause dry, hot skin with no sweating.
Alice Squires, a First Aid trainer for the Red Cross, said: "Most of us have felt uncomfortable in hot weather at some point. Thankfully, our bodies do a good job of managing temperature, but when things start to go wrong, it’s not always easy to spot the warning signs. Someone might not realise they're in trouble until it becomes serious, which is where a first aider can step in and make a difference."
How to Prevent Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke
The NHS recommends drinking more cold drinks, especially when active or exercising; wearing light-coloured, loose clothing; avoiding the sun between 11am and 3pm; limiting alcohol intake; avoiding extreme exercise; and keeping homes cool by closing curtains, closing windows if it's hotter outside, and turning off hot electrical equipment and lights.
