First aid advice – how to stay safe in the sun this summer
Now that summer is here, we’re all enjoying the sunshine and the warm temperatures. However, this time of year can bring with it a few dangers, such as sunburn and heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and sunstroke.
To stay safe in the sun, follow these tips:
- Wear sun cream and reapply it every hour or so
- Wear sun cream even if there are occasional windy or cloudy periods on an otherwise sunny day
- Wear a hat, drink lots of water and seek out shade at least once in a while to prevent heat exhaustion
- Learn how to spot the symptoms of heat stroke, which include dizziness, nausea, headache and a rapid but weak heartbeat
- Take a first aid kit out with you in case of any minor accidents
It can also be useful to undergo first aid training to learn how to prevent and treat summer-related medical situations. This is especially the case if you have children and need to administer first aid on a summer holiday, or if you work in a hot office where there is no other first aider present. For the latter, a first aid at work course could be very handy indeed.