First aid skills for summer
First aid skills for summer
With the summer in full swing, many childcarers will be venturing further afield making the most of the outdoors and ensuring children get plenty of fresh air. With hopefully many more warm days ahead, make sure you stay safe with the British Red Cross’ free first aid skills for summer pack. It is crammed full of first aid tips, to help you know how to provide important first aid for common summer related injuries
During the hot weather, we can often experience dangerous temperatures that are above 30°C. Children are particularly at risk in hot weather as they can’t control their body temperature as efficiently as adults do or tell us as easily if something is wrong or they are feeling unwell as a result.
It's important to take precautions if you or those in your care will be exposed to the sun and heat and make sure you know what to do should a first aid emergency arise. These summer first aid tips will help you feel confident when looking after children in hot weather.
Sunburn
Being outside for long periods of time increases exposure to the sun, and therefore the risk of getting sunburnt. Prevention is better than cure, but if you or someone you know does get sunburnt, here’s what to do:
What to do
1. Cover their skin with light clothing or a towel and help them move into the shade, or indoors if possible.
2. Give them frequent sips of cold water. Cool the affected skin by dabbing with cold water.
Heat exhaustion
Heat exhaustion happens when someone loses fluid and salt through excessive sweating, which is the body's way of trying to cool down when it's too hot –The body can get too hot in many ways including after being in a hot or humid environment, not being accustomed to the heat or physical exertion.
What are the symptoms of heat exhaustion?
• The person may be dizzy or confused and complain of a headache.
• They may be sweating and have pale, cool skin.
• They may feel nauseous.
What to do
1. Help the person to a cool place and get them to rest.
This will help them start to cool down.
Helping the person to lie down and raise their legs can help them stop feeling dizzy.
2. Give them plenty of water to drink.
Tell them to take small sips regularly. Isotonic sports drinks are even better as they will also help to replace salt lost through sweating.
3. Seek medical advice.
Even if the person appears to recover fully, advise them to seek medical advice. If their condition deteriorates, call 999 for emergency help.
Find out how to stay safe during the summer with our free guide, which is full of handy first aid tips.
The information in this article is provided by British Red Cross and does not represent Morton Michel.