Date:
26 April 2024
Page URL:
https://www.sheffieldccg.nhs.uk/Your-Health/sunburn-and-heat-exhaustion.htm?pr=
Most of us enjoy spending time in the sun and but sometimes we can overdo exposure to the sun’s rays. It’s easy to underestimate your time to the sun and not realise you’re getting burnt.
While sunburn is usually short-lived, it's important to avoid because it can increase the chances of developing skin cancer in later life. Below are some tips on how to treat mild sunburn:
You should contact your GP or call NHS 111 for advice if:
Heat exhaustion causes extreme tiredness as a result of a decrease in blood pressure and blood volume. It's caused by a loss of body fluids after being exposed to heat for a prolonged period of time.
Someone with heat exhaustion will feel sick, faint and sweat heavily. They should go immediately to a cool place and drink plenty of water. Remove excess clothing and you should start to feel better within half an hour with no long-term complications.
Heatstroke is a more serious condition than heat exhaustion and occurs when the body's temperature becomes dangerously high. The body is no longer able to cool itself and starts to overheat.
Groups more at risk of developing heatstroke are:
Signs of heatstroke include dry skin, vertigo, confusion, headache, thirst, nausea, rapid shallow breathing (hyperventilation) and muscle cramps.
Suspected heatstroke should always be regarded as an emergency, and you should dial 999 to request an ambulance.
While waiting for the ambulance you should:
Left untreated, heatstroke can lead to complications, such as brain damage and organ failure. It's also possible to die from heatstroke.
There are steps you can take to reduce the risk of getting heat exhaustion and heatstroke: