Don’t overheat this Summer:

First aid tips to remember during the warmer months

Australia is expected to experience another scorching few months and temperatures have already reached the mid-40s throughout some parts of the country. If you’re heading away on a holiday or staying home to work through the festive season, it’s important to make sure you’re looking after yourself and preventing the risk of dehydration or heat stroke occurring.

To help ensure you’re prepared for these coming weeks of hot weather, our team of first aid experts have put together a few things you should remember to help you avoid overheating.

Stay Hydrated:

It may seem obvious, but one of the most essential things to remember (and which some people often don’t do) is to stay as hydrated as possible throughout these warmer months. It’s important to make sure you’re steadily drinking water throughout the day to reduce the risk of becoming dehydrated. It’s generally advised that people should be drinking at least 2 litres of water per day.

During hotter periods when you’re losing extra fluids through sweat, it’s advised that your daily intake of water is increased even more than the 2-litre mark. Ensure that you’re looking out for signs of dehydration in yourself and those around you, this might include a feeling of dizziness, headache, rapid breathing and heartbeat or fainting.

Managing Dehydration:

Move the dehydrated person to a cooler area like indoors in the air conditioning or into a shady area and sit or lie them down.
Give the person fluids to drink including water or electrolyte drinks if available.
Monitor the person closely and keep an eye on their breathing. Check to see if their breathing starts to return to a more normal rate.
If symptoms worsen, ensure that you seek the help of a medical professional.

Other Things to Remember:

Where possible, try to stay indoors and keep cool. Air conditioning and fans will be your best friends during this warm time of the year. If you have to work outdoors and keeping cool in the air con isn’t an option—ensure that you’re taking regular breaks in the shade and staying especially hydrated.
Don’t forget about your pets! It’s important to make sure they always have access to plenty of water and have a shady area to relax in.

Learn More:

If you would like to better prepare yourself for the management of heat-related illnesses like dehydration and heatstroke, we recommend that you consider taking part in one of our first aid courses. Check out our variety of courses on offer and easily book yourself in via the online booking system.

To better prepare yourself for a complete range of medical emergencies, it’s also good to consider purchasing a first aid kit or defibrillator. Here at FAAE, we stock an extensive range of defibrillators and defibrillator packs—take a look at our range on the online shop or get in contact with our expert team today.