British households are being warned to familiarise themselves with the signs and symptoms of heatstroke as a life-threatening alert over extreme heat has been issued.According to the NHS, the following symptoms are a sign that you may be suffering from heatstroke:
- a very high temperature
- hot skin that’s not sweating and might look red
- fast breathing or shortness of breath
- a fast heartbeat
- confusion and restlessness
- lack of coordination
- a seizure or fit
- loss of consciousness
If you, or someone nearby, displays any of these symptoms and remains unwell after 30 minutes of resting in a cool spot, being cooled down and drinking fluids, you must seek urgent medical assistance and dial 999.
While waiting for help to arrive, the person suffering from heatstroke should be wrapped in a cool, damp sheet, fanned, or sponged down with cold water.