Signs of heatstroke and how to treat it as temperatures soar

As the summer heatwave goes on, many of us will be wanting to spend more time enjoying the sunshine.

But there are also major health risks as the weather gets hotter.

In heatstroke, the body’s ability to control its temperature fails, so it becomes dangerously overheated.

Heatstroke can occur within a matter of minutes and may lead to unconsciousness.

The affected person may become dizzy, have a headache and seem restless or confused.

Without proper treatment, heatstroke can cause damage to the brain, heart, kidneys and muscles.

Heatstroke can be very dangerous, and needs emergency treatment, so it is important to know the signs.

A precursor to heatstroke is heat exhaustion.

Heat exhaustion is less serious, and the symptoms will usually get better if the person cools down.

But if the heat exhaustion turns into heat stroke, it is an emergency and you should seek medical attention.

The NHS says that signs of heat exhaustion include:

The NHS warns that a person may be suffering from heatstroke if they:

If you suspect someone has heatstroke, you should phone for an ambulance.

During the hot weather, there is a high rick of being hit by heat exhaustion and heatstoke.

Some things you can do to help prevent it are:

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