It's summer and that means family vacations and fun in the sun! However, when having fun you must be careful to avoid having a heat-related illness ruin your day. Always drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks when working or playing in the hot weather.
If some one you are with begins to suffer from a heat-related illness, follow these steps for general care:
- Get the victim out of the heat.
- Loosen tight clothing, and remove clothing that is soaked with perspiration.
- Fan the victim.
- Apply cool, wet cloths to the skin.
- If the person is fully awake and alert, have the victim drink small amounts of cool water.
Call 9-1-1, or the local emergency number, if the person refuses water, vomits, or starts to lose consciousness.
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