Every summer, searches for first aid advice on heat exhaustion, sunburn and insect bites surge across the UK.
With some NHS pages seeing traffic jump by over 200% during hot weather alerts, here are the most common first aid emergencies in summer and how to handle them.
What we’ll cover:
- Heat-related illness
- Skin problems
- Allergic reactions
- Summer events and food risks
- Activity-related injuries
As a first aider, you’re often the first person someone turns to in an emergency. Explore the different topics or have a general brush-up on your summer first aid skills.
Heat-related illnesses: when they turn serious
Dehydration
Dehydration can develop quickly in hot weather and, if missed, can lead to heat exhaustion or worse. Hot weather, physical activity and long periods outdoors all increase risk.
Prevent dehydration by:
- Drinking water regularly throughout the day
- Taking steps to stay cool in hot or humid conditions.
Pay extra attention to those most at risk:
- Babies and young children
- Older people
- People with long-term health conditions.
Signs to look for:
- Headache and light-headedness
- Dry mouth, eyes and lips
- Dark, infrequent urine
- Muscle cramps.
Find out more about staying hydrated and keeping safe in a heatwave here.
Heat exhaustion & heatstroke
Heat exhaustion is caused by losing too much salt and water, usually through sweating in heat, humidity or prolonged activity.
It develops slowly, so it’s easy to miss.
Heat exhaustion should improve within 30 minutes after cooling and replenishing fluids.
If symptoms fail to improve within 30 minutes, worsen or the person develops confusion, unconsciousness or a temperature above 40°C, treat as suspected heatstroke and call 999 immediately.
Heatstroke is a medical emergency. It happens when the brain cannot regulate the body’s temperature.
Help prevent both by:
- Staying hydrated
- Wearing light, loose-fitting clothing and a sunhat
- Avoiding the sun between 11am-3pm
Call 999 immediately if you suspect heatstroke.
Heat exhaustion can quickly progress to heatstroke. Know the difference and act quickly if symptoms worsen or do not improve with fluids and rest.
Refresh your skills with our free heat-related illness eLearning module.
Skin conditions caused by heat and summer allergies
Heat rash
Heat rash, or prickly heat, can be uncomfortable. It can appear anywhere on the body when sweat glands are blocked.
Look for:
- Small red spots or raised bumps
- Stinging or prickling feeling on the skin.
It is not serious and should go in a few days, but to help you can:
- Take a cool bath or shower
- Avoid perfumed shower gels or creams
- Apply a cold ice pack wrapped in a towel for up to 10 minutes.
Blisters
Blisters can be caused by the skin repeatedly rubbing against something or being exposed to heat.
Remember – don’t burst a blister! This increases the risk of infection. Keep the area clean and, if caused by rubbing, cover with a plaster larger than the blister area or a special blister plaster.
In the summer, blistering can also be caused by sunburn.
Other skin conditions
Skin conditions, including Eczema, Psoriasis, Rosacea and Acne, can all be affected by the sun. As the skin is already more sensitive, or can flare up if sunburnt, take extra care to prevent sunburn so that symptoms do not get worse.
Sunburn
Sunburn can normally be treated at home, and mild sunburn usually goes away within 7 days. However, don’t be fooled, even once the soreness retreats, damage is still being done under the surface.
People of all skin tones can experience sunburn. Take precautions to protect skin, such as:
- Staying out of the sun as much as possible between 11am-3pm
- Covering up with loose, light clothing
- Using sunscreen
Sunburn needs further treatment if any of the following symptoms occur:
- Blistering
- Swelling
- Fever
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Headache
- Muscle cramps
- Signs of dehydration.
Seek medical help if blistering is extensive, affects a young child, or is associated with symptoms of heat illness or infection.
As a first aider, your role is to cool the skin quickly and spot signs of more serious heat illness. Find out more about sunburn in our blog.
Allergic reactions
Allergic reactions are more common in summer months, with people spending more time outdoors be aware of what could cause an allergic reaction.
Hay fever
Sneezing, a runny nose and itchy, watery eyes are common, annoying hay fever symptoms.
Check the pollen forecast to find out if the pollen count is high. You can usually find this on your weather app.
Treat hay fever by:
- Taking hay fever medication
- Regularly vacuuming and damp-dusting
- Wearing wrap-around sunglasses.
Some people also find applying a small amount of Vaseline around the nostrils helps reduce pollen entering the nose.
If symptoms are severe, getting worse or not responding to treatment, speak to a GP.
Nettle stings
If you’re working outside, or if you have children playing outdoors, watch out for those pesky nettles.
Look for:
- A stinging sensation
- White or red spots
- Red raised patches.
Wash the area with soap and water as soon as possible and avoid scratching or rubbing.
Insect bites and stings
Insect stings can cause:
- Stinging pain
- Redness that spreads
- Swelling
- Irritation or itching
- Hives.
Don’t use tweezers to pull out an insect sting. The speed of removal is more important than the technique, as venom delivery continues while the sting remains in the skin.
Remove the sting as quickly as possible. If you can see it, brush it off sideways with something firm like a fingernail, credit card or plastic ruler.
You can use a cold compress to treat the affected area and raise it to reduce swelling.
Insect stings and bites are usually not serious.
If breathing is affected or swelling spreads rapidly, call 999 immediately, as the person could be experiencing anaphylaxis, which is life-threatening.
Ticks can carry diseases like Lyme disease and should be removed as soon as possible. Remove using a dedicated tick removal tool or fine-tipped tweezers. Pull upwards steadily without twisting.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening reaction to an allergen that can develop in seconds and progress quickly. It is a medical emergency – call 999 immediately.
What to look for:
- A red, itchy rash, or raised area of skin (weals/hives) often around the face and neck
- Red, itchy, watery eyes
- Rapid swelling of hands, feet, or face, particularly lips and neck
- Abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhoea
- Difficulty breathing with wheezing or a noisy airway
- Coughing
- Swelling of the tongue and throat with puffiness around the eyes
- Confusion and agitation
- Signs of shock leading to collapse and unresponsiveness.
What to do:
- If the person carries an auto-injector, help them to use it or do it yourself straight away, following the instructions
- Call 999 and tell ambulance control that you suspect anaphylaxis
- Monitor their breathing and level of response
- If there is no improvement after 5 minutes or if symptoms return, give a second adrenaline auto-injector if one is available
- Lie the person flat where possible – if breathing is difficult, they may sit with legs outstretched. Pregnant patients should be positioned on their left side
- Do not allow them to stand or walk
- If they stop breathing, begin CPR.
You can increase your skills with our eLearning Anaphylaxis First Aid course. Especially if you work with anyone with a known allergy, or work in environments where allergens, such as food, are common.
Summer socialising
Summer months bring festivals, BBQs, family gatherings, concerts, sporting fixtures and a whole host of fun. No one wants to be a party pooper, and all of these events can be enjoyed with a little preparation and awareness.
Watch out for:
- Food allergies
- Dehydration at long, hot events
- Food poisoning
- Alcohol poisoning
- Spiking.
Food poisoning & alcohol poisoning
Undercooked BBQ sausages, food left out in the sun too long and poor food hygiene can all lead to food poisoning.
If you work with food, or are planning on workplace summer socials involving food, make sure you are up to date with food safety and hygiene training.
Food poisoning can cause unpleasant symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, cramps and fever – all of which can be made worse by hot weather. Remind yourself about food poisoning prevention and treatment in our free eLearning module.
Keep the person hydrated and watch for signs of dehydration and treat it if it occurs. If dehydration occurs, symptoms are severe, prolonged, or there is blood in the stools, seek medical advice.
Alcohol poisoning is caused by drinking too much alcohol more quickly than the body can process it and filter it out of the blood. Be mindful of alcohol intake when at long events like festivals.
Never leave someone who may have alcohol poisoning alone.
If someone is unresponsive but breathing as a result of drinking too much alcohol, place them in the recovery position so they do not choke if they vomit. If they become unresponsive and stop breathing, begin CPR.
Refresh your CPR knowledge here
Spiking
While less common, spiking is important to be aware of in crowded summer events. Did you know spiking can be caused in many ways? Including:
- Drink spiking: putting alcohol or drugs in drinks
- Needle spiking: injecting someone with drugs
- Vape/cigarette spiking: putting drugs in a vape or a cigarette.
Beyond the normal effects of alcohol, it can cause:
- Mental confusion
- Nausea and vomiting
- Breathing problems
- Muscle spasms or seizures
- Loss of consciousness.
Top tips to prevent spiking include:
- Staying together when out with friends
- Pacing alcohol intake
- Using bottle ‘bungs’ (a cork which can prevent drinks from being spiked)
- Not accepting drinks from strangers.
Find out more on our advice page
Burns
As well as the potential for food poisoning, BBQs can contribute to burns. Take care when cooking food on BBQs and keep young children and pets away.
Remember, BBQs can take several hours to cool down once cooking has finished.
Call 999 if the burn is large, deep or affects the face, hands, feet or genitals.
Definitions of burns:
- Superficial burns affect the outer layer of the skin and may look red and tender
- Partial thickness burns also affect the outer layer of the skin, but the skin becomes red and raw, and blisters may form
- A full-thickness burn affects all layers of the skin and can cause damage to nerves, tissues, muscles and blood vessels.
Remember SCALD and get help if:
-
S – Size:
- A superficial burn that covers more than 5% of the body
- A partial-thickness burn that covers more than 1% of the body
- Any size full-thickness burn
- C – Cause: if the burn is caused by chemicals or electricity
- A – Age: if the person is a child or elderly
- L – Location: if the burn is on the hands, feet, face, airway, genitals or around a limb
- D – Depth: All full-thickness burns or burns of mixed depth.
How to treat burns:
Minor burns:
- Cool the burn immediately using cool running water for at least 20 minutes
- Remove restrictive clothing or jewellery if not stuck to the skin
- Cover lengthways with cling film or a sterile, non-fluffy dressing
Severe burn:
- Cool the burn immediately using cool running for at least 20 minutes
- Remove restrictive clothing or jewellery if not stuck to the skin
- Call 999 or 112
- Cover loosely with cling film or sterile, non-fluffy dressing
- Monitor and treat for shock if necessary
You can remind yourself how to treat shock on our advice pages or in the topics section of your app.
Do not burst blisters or apply butter, toothpaste, creams, oils or ice directly to the burn.
Read more about minor, severe and chemical burns on our advice pages.
Getting active
More time outdoors means a higher risk of minor injuries – be ready to act quickly.
Whether it’s beach cricket or a leisurely stroll, it can be sensible to pack a first aid kit into your car or bag, so you’re fully prepared to deal with a range of minor incidents.
Minor cuts, grazes and wound care
Cuts and grazes are usually minor injuries, but if they’re not treated properly, they can lead to infection.
For both, clean the wound under clean running water before applying an appropriate sterile dressing:
- For a graze cover with sterile gauze
- For a cut, apply a sterile dressing or plaster.
Get medical help if:
- A wound won’t stop bleeding
- Has a foreign object embedded in it
- You think it might be infected
- You are unsure if the casualty has been immunised against tetanus.
Watch for signs of infection: redness, swelling, pus, or worsening pain.
Sprains, strains and fractures
Sprains and strains are injuries to the soft structures around the bones and joints and are often associated with sports activities.
If someone has hurt themselves, look for pain and tenderness, swelling and bruising and difficulty moving the injured area, especially if it’s a joint.
Rest initially, cool the injury, provide support and elevate if comfortable.
Remember RICE:
- R – Rest the injured area
- I – Apply an ice pack
- C – Provide comfortable support
- E – Elevate the injured part.
If you see any of the following, it could indicate a more serious fracture injury:
- Deformity around the fracture
- A limb that looks shorter, twisted or bent
- A grating noise or feeling from the ends of the broken bones
- A wound over the fracture
- A wound where you can see the bone sticking out (open fracture)
- Signs of shock.
When to get help:
- Open fractures and long bones:
These injuries need immediate transfer to A&E by calling 999 or 112 for emergency help. - Suspected broken back, neck, or pelvis:
These injuries need immediate transfer to A&E by calling 999 or 112 for emergency help. - Smaller bones or other fractures:
These injuries need to be transferred to A&E or an Urgent Treatment Centre, but it is less urgent. If possible, the patient can make their own way to the hospital with a friend, family member or colleague.
If you undertake regular sporting or other physical activities, it might be worth increasing your first aid knowledge through a Sports First Aid course.
Enjoy the summer safely!
With more potential heatwaves on the way keep an eye on the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Heat Health Alerts during periods of extreme weather and look out for anyone who could be vulnerable, including older people, children, pregnant women or those with chronic illness.
This summer, your skills can make the difference - at work, at events, or at home.
Refresh your knowledge in the app, revisit key topics, or book an Annual Refresher course to stay confident and ready.
Sources
https://www.england.nhs.uk/2025/06/nhs-web-visits-to-heat-exhaustion-advice-surge-by-nearly-200/
