With an amber warning of "extreme heat" forecast for Wales this week, the Welsh Ambulance Service is reminding people how to stay safe in the sun. With the warm weather showing little sign of settling down, it is important that people take necessary precautions to keep themselves safe.
One of the most common side effects of scorching conditions is heat stroke, which can leave people feeling very unwell. Heatstroke is a condition in which the body can no longer control its temperature. When it occurs, the body’s temperature can rise to 41C (106 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher within 10 to 15 minutes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
And with people living in the UK not used to such heat, it is not uncommon to feel ill in such climates. Heatstroke occurs when the body is exposed to high temperatures and excessive sweating, typically from a loss of water and salt in the body causing it to dehydrate.
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While sweating is the body's usual way of cooling ourselves down, when suffering from heat stroke this starts to shut down making it difficult to regulate the temperature.
The main symptoms of heat stroke include:
- Hot and dry skin;
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Rapid heart rate;
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nausea;
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vomiting;
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loss of consciousness.
In very serious cases and when treatment is delayed, symptoms can include seizures, coma and death. Another little known symptom of heat stroke is muscle cramps, according to BirminghamLive.
Heat cramps are severe, sometimes disabling muscle cramps that begin suddenly in the hands, calves, or feet. If you’re engaging in physical activity and suddenly experience shooting pain in these areas, be sure to hydrate and get to shade immediately.
Another hidden sign could be a headache. Most people attribute headaches to stress or a cold, they can also be caused by dehydration. In fact, headache is a commonly ignored symptom of heat exhaustion, which left untreated can evolve into heat stroke. If you’re in a warm environment and you feel a headache, make sure to hydrate and cool down immediately.
While Wales is expected to be warm all week, the high temperatures look set to peak on Sunday when temperatures could reach 35C in some parts of the UK. As a result, the Welsh Ambulance Service is urging the public to take precautions ahead of the hot weather.
Warm weather generates an increase in calls to people with breathing difficulties, and with 999 demand already high, and Covid-19 infections continuing to rise, the Trust is asking the public to take extra precautions to reduce pressure on the service.
Lee Brooks, the trust’s executive director of operations, said: “We had almost 2,000 calls to 999 on Sunday alone, which is roughly one call every minute. We expect demand to remain high with the increase in temperature, so we need the public’s help to ensure that the pressures we face are not exacerbated by the weather.
“Hot weather means your body has to work harder to keep its core temperature to normal levels, and this puts extra strain on your heart, lungs and kidneys. This means that you can be at greater risk if you have a pre-existing heart or respiratory condition, like asthma or angina. It’s really important to keep cool and stay hydrated, and if you’re out and about, please look after yourself and those with you.
“If you do fall victim to the sun, take one of our NHS 111 Wales symptom checkers for bites and stings, breathing difficulties, hay fever and sunburn – it’ll help you determine the best course of action.”
How to protect yourself in the heat:
- Drink lots of water – it’s important to keep hydrated as you lose more fluid than you take in during hotter temperatures and this is especially true if drinking alcohol
- Keep out of the sun – it’s best to stay in the shade between 11am-3pm when the sun is at its hottest
- Wear sun cream and sunglasses – apply a sun cream of at least factor 30 that includes UVA protection and make sure your sunglasses have UV protection lenses
- Loose clothing – wear light, loose fitting cotton clothes along with a hat
- Look out for others – keep a check on those vulnerable to the effects of heat, especially the elderly, young children and babies and those who have a heart or respiratory condition such as asthma
- Never leave babies, young children or animals in a parked vehicle – temperatures can soar very quickly in a parked car, and children under two are particularly at risk of getting heatstroke or heat exhaustion
- Take care around water – always supervise children in and around pools and seriously consider whether open water areas (rivers, lakes, etc.) are safe
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