During the summer months, many people can easily be harmed by the heat. Heat
exhaustion and heat stroke can debilitate a person or even cause death. Learn
the signs and how to treat someone suffering from heat related injuries:
Heat exhaustion signs
Skin cool to the touch,
moist, flushed, pale or ashen
Headache, nausea, dizziness
Weakness
Heat stroke signs
Consciousness changes
(going from being fully aware to listless, lethargic or unconscious)
Skin hot to the touch, but
may be moist or dry
Rapid or weak pulse
Rapid or shallow breathing
High body temperature
If you suspect someone is suffering from heat exhaustion or heat stroke,
help them by:
Moving the victim to a
cooler environment
Fan the victim or place
them in a room with circulating air while dousing with a cool, moist
sponge or rag
Give them water in small
amounts if conscious
If the victim doesn’t
improve, call 911 immediately and stay with them until help arrives
Choking
If you see someone choking, but they are still conscious, take action by:
Stand behind the person and
position your hands (find the belly button, make a fist, thumb side
against the middle of the person’s abdomen, just above the belly button)*
Interlock your other hand on
the fisted hand and give rapid, upward thrusts
Continue thrusts until the
object is dislodged
*If faced with a choking child, kneel down on one leg and place that leg
between the child’s feet for support
If they are unconscious and choking, follow these tips:
Give two rescue breaths to
make sure the airway is obstructed (you can tell by watching if the chest
rises up and down with each breath)
If breaths don’t go in,
give 15 chest compressions (place the heel of your hand on the notch where
the ribs meet the breastbone, place the other hand on top of the hand on
the notch and lock your elbows, then compress the chest, going down about
2 inches in depth) *
Then, open the victim’s
mouth to check for a foreign object – lift the jaw upward while holding
the tongue – carefully sweep the foreign object out of the person’s mouth
with your finger
Give two more rescue
breaths to ensure the obstruction has been cleared, if not, continue until
the foreign object is removed or until help arrives
*If you are faced with a child who is unconsciously choking, give 5 chest
compressions using one hand, going down only 1 ½ inches in depth