As the UK experiences record-breaking temperatures nearing 40°C in parts of England, the NHS is urging the public to recognise the critical differences between heat exhaustion and heatstroke. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms amid the ongoing heatwave, heightening the risk of heat-related illnesses.
Heat Exhaustion: Symptoms and First Aid
The NHS states that heat exhaustion does not usually require emergency medical help if the person can cool down within 30 minutes. Symptoms are similar in adults and children and include tiredness, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, excessive sweating with pale and clammy skin (skin colour changes may be harder to see on brown or black skin), cramps in arms, legs, and stomach, a high temperature, extreme thirst, and irritability.
If someone shows signs of heat exhaustion, they should be moved to a cool place, given fluids, and cooled down. The NHS advises that cooling down within half an hour typically resolves the condition without emergency intervention.
Heatstroke: A Medical Emergency
Heatstroke is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate medical help. Symptoms include a very high temperature, hot skin without sweating (again, harder to detect on darker skin), fast breathing and heartbeat, confusion, restlessness, seizures, and loss of consciousness. The NHS warns: "If it turns into heatstroke, it needs to be treated as an emergency. Call 999 if you or someone else has signs of heatstroke."
The emergency services advise calling 999 if the person remains unwell after 30 minutes of resting in a cool place, despite cooling and fluid intake. Do not drive yourself to A&E; the 999 operator will provide guidance.
Official Advice and Context
Posting on Instagram, the NHS emphasised: "Know the different signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat exhaustion does not usually need emergency medical help if you can cool down within 30 minutes. But if it turns into heatstroke, it needs to be treated as an emergency."
With temperatures soaring, the public is urged to stay hydrated, avoid direct sun during peak hours, and check on vulnerable individuals. The key takeaway: heat exhaustion is manageable, but heatstroke demands an immediate 999 call.
