The only solution is to take action, using our votes and voices to pressure politicians to reduce emissions, urgently. Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and many other charities have practical suggestions on how you can get involved. But right now we, our parents, grandparents, children and even pets are at risk of heat exhaustion and, worse, heatstroke. What are the warning signs? What can you do to prevent and treat it and when do you need emergency medical help? Keep drinking water and watch how often you go to the bathroom. Photo: Nes/Getty Images/model pose
Adults
In heatstroke, the brain loses the ability to regulate body temperature, potentially leading to a cascade of damage to the liver, kidneys, muscles, and especially the heart. It can develop quickly, with little warning, and can be fatal. But before you reach the danger zone of heat stroke, most adults will experience symptoms of heat exhaustion. “Heatstroke is an emergency. Heat exhaustion isn’t usually like that,’ says Dr Lynn Thomas, medical director of St John Ambulance. It’s a good idea to look up reliable heat exhaustion and heat stroke symptom guides online, but in essence, heat exhaustion is that malaise that most of us have experienced at some point in very hot weather. “You may notice dizziness or slight confusion, headaches, cramps. you’d sweat, you’d have cool skin, you’d feel sick, you’d have faster breathing rates and faster heart rates,” says Dafydd Beech, of the Red Cross National Community Education Team. Conversely, a person suffering from heatstroke may still experience dizziness, headache and discomfort, but more importantly, their skin will become hot, red and dry. “The body loses its ability to sweat,” says Thomas. “It can’t lose any of that heat and it just gets hotter and hotter. This can confuse people. They may lose consciousness or have seizures and fits.” This is the danger zone: “If one does not improve with water and gets cold. if they don’t sweat even though it’s very hot. if they are unable to keep water down or drink water. if they have a temperature above 40C (104F) or are unresponsive – call 999 no matter how busy it is,” says Thomas. Recommends using a loudspeaker. “Unfortunately, heatstroke could lead to someone going into cardiac arrest. Hopefully you won’t get to that point, but if you do, the call operator will let you know everything you need to do.” It’s harder, of course, to recognize the symptoms in yourself, especially when one of them is confusion. “There is absolutely an increased risk for people to develop heat exhaustion and heatstroke if they live alone,” says Thomas. “You might not notice that you’re feeling a bit confused, because how would you know?” Beech advises to watch for any sense that “things are starting to get worse, like, ‘Something’s not right here.’ Apart from the basic advice to stay in the coolest part of your house and avoid exertion, Thomas’ advice is to stay hydrated, “and watch how often you go to the toilet: the urine should be light straw”. . It’s also important to be aware of the potential effects of any medication you’re taking: “Some antidepressants can decrease your ability to handle high temperatures or decrease your ability to sweat,” says Thomas. “Make sure you have a method to call for help if you need to,” adds Beech. “Have your phone with you.” First aid for people suffering from heatstroke and heatstroke is mostly common sense: move the person to a cool place, give them water to drink (this may not be possible for those suffering from heatstroke), and try to cool the skin. Thomas suggests “a sponge or spray or ice packs. put some water on the skin because it helps the evaporation.’ For more severe cases, Beech suggests “wrapping the person in cold, damp clothing.” It is important not to try to cool a person suffering from heat exhaustion too quickly, which can lead to shock. “Sometimes we hear they throw the person in cold baths: you shouldn’t do that,” says Beech. The goal is to “slowly and steadily cool the person down.”
Older people
The symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke are the same for the elderly, but they may be more vulnerable to dehydration and may lose the desire to drink, which can increase the risks of heat-related illness. “The concern with older people is that they don’t always recognize some of the signs,” says Thomas. “Please check on your elderly relatives and neighbors much more often than usual. try to get them to stay in and keep the curtains closed.’ It can be difficult, he says, to get dementia sufferers in particular to drink. “Maybe put some water next to them with some ice in it. check they drink it. The tea is fine, thank God.” Often, kids don’t tell you they want to cool off indoors. Photo: allgord/Getty Images/iStockphoto/model pose
Children and babies
“It’s hard with kids, because they like to be outside and they won’t necessarily say, ‘I have to go inside because I’m hot.’ So make sure they go to the bathroom regularly and drink a lot,” says Thomas. The symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke are much the same in children as in adults, but note that when babies suffer from heat exhaustion, they often “sleep more and don’t interact as much.” To keep babies cool, “stay indoors or get out early,” says Claire Maguire, a postnatal doctor at the National Childbirth Trust. When you’re out and about, avoid snapping a muslin over the stroller for shade: “Research says this can cause the interior of the stroller to heat up and cause the overheating you were trying to prevent in the first place.” Maguire recommends getting to know your baby’s normal temperature (testing on the back of the neck or chest, not the extremities, which are cooler). “That way you know when it’s too hot.” To cool a baby’s room, freeze water in a plastic bottle, cut the plastic and place it upright in front of a fan Safe sleep guidelines for babies recommend that bedrooms should be at 16-20C (61-68F): difficult in this weather. Maguire’s top tip is to fill a two-litre bottle three-quarters full with water, freeze it, cut off the plastic, then leave it standing in a large baking tin in front of a fan for about half an hour before using a room. “Never point a fan directly at a baby,” says Maguire. they have difficulty adapting to changes in temperature. Staying hydrated is also crucial. “Babies are very vulnerable to dehydration because of their volume-to-surface ratio: if they get dehydrated it can affect their health much faster than someone older,” says Maguire. Breastfed babies may want to feed more often, she says. Milk-fed babies can have small amounts of water regularly in a ‘free-flow cup’ (boiled and cold if under six months). Keep a record of wet diapers: “If you have an older baby, you’re probably used to the frequency of his wet diapers,” says Maguire. “If you have a much smaller baby and you’re not sure what his rate is, it’s about six diapers a day.” If you’re in any doubt, says Maguire, call NHS 111 and the NCT freephone helpline (0300 330 0700) can give you individual advice on summer feeding. The Red Cross also has a free first aid app for babies and children. Trim the furry dogs, give them cold treats and let them walk. Photo: Vichakorn/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Pets
Our furry housemates are also vulnerable to heat-related illnesses, says Dr Karen Hamm, an emergency and critical care physician at the Royal Veterinary College. Those who are overweight, those with thick fur designed for cold temperatures, or flat-faced (short-headed) dogs such as pugs and bulldogs are at even greater risk. “Dogs don’t sweat, really,” says Humm. “So if they can’t pant efficiently, they can’t lose heat efficiently.” The warning signs that your dog may be dangerously overheated, Humm says, are “non-specific and therefore difficult.” Panting excessively or noisier than usual is a key warning sign. Chris Wilson, a small animal vet based in London, says dogs can also appear “restless, or listless and strange”. Dogs most affected by the heat may drool or experience vomiting or diarrhoea, and in the worst case they may collapse and have seizures. It is important, both agree, to act quickly, long before that happens. Once an animal suffers heat-induced enzyme damage, it can be irreversible, even leading to multiple organ failure and death. “If you’re not sure and they don’t look quite right, call the vet. If they are breathing noisily, be sure to call the vet. If they’re uncoordinated, they’re stumbling, if they seem a bit drunk or hard to wake up, or they’ve collapsed, go straight to the vet – call them when you’re on the way,” says Humm. “The emphasis is on preventing them from getting to that stage,” agrees Wilson.
