Page 2 | If I pass out from heat at work

RudolphTheReindeer · 10/07/2026 16:13

Bad in what sense? And obviously it depends on whether you pass out because you aren't looking after yourself properly or pass out because your employer isn't taking the H&S precautions they should.

EBearhug · 10/07/2026 16:12

I'm a first aider at work. It's quite bad if someone faints, because as well as having to do first aid, there is a lot of paperwork. Previous workplace would have called an ambulance no question. Colleague at current place collapsed at work (not in a heat wave and ended up having checks at hospital and quite a bit of time off sick while they sorted out the previously undiagnosed condition. I didn't deal with it though, as I wasn't in the office at thst point.

First aid has also meant it can be hard to get hold of ice at work - canteen has freezers, but no ice-cubes.

Backedoffhackedoff · 10/07/2026 16:07

LakieLady · 10/07/2026 15:31

There are a fair few people who couldn't afford a taxi.

It's the best part of £40 to my nearest A&E department.

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That doesn’t mean you get an ambulance! It’s not transport

chocoluv · 10/07/2026 16:06

It depends on what job you do.

Are you a bus driver for example?

Are you worried about falling from a great height or hitting your head?

We need more context.

Springtimeinsunshine · 10/07/2026 15:57

MrsTerryPratchett · 10/07/2026 14:22

WTF on the user name?

I assume it's to do with the heat and nothing more. If I was going to suggest somewhere was really freezing I would liken it to Siberia or the Artic.

Need more information OP. Is your work refusing to let you get a cool drink or splash water on your face/wrists?

WrongKindOfFeminist · 10/07/2026 15:54

CasperGutman · 10/07/2026 13:46

It depends. Have they just "fainted"? The advice if someone is suffering from heatstroke is to obtain emergency medical assistance. Heatstroke Symptoms and First Aid | St John Ambulance

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Yep. Fainting from heat stroke is not really a good thing.

LakieLady · 10/07/2026 15:31

user1471538275 · 10/07/2026 14:27

@itchyelbowsandswollenankles The ambulance service is not for anyone who is unwell and needs it.

It is for emergencies.

About 95% of people who are unwell do not need an ambulance.

The 'needs it' bit is rather subjective - some people think they need it because they don't want to pay for a taxi.

There are a fair few people who couldn't afford a taxi.

It's the best part of £40 to my nearest A&E department.

Backedoffhackedoff · 10/07/2026 15:26

CasperGutman · 10/07/2026 15:25

Very funny. Yeah. St John's Ambulance, they're a joke, they'll probably treat heatstroke with polo mints, etc.

Their advice is consistent with others though, e.g. the NHS says "Heatstroke is a medical emergency. Get immediate medical help if someone has the symptoms of heatstroke."

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The nhs also don’t advise you call an ambulance of any type for fainting.

CasperGutman · 10/07/2026 15:25

Backedoffhackedoff · 10/07/2026 13:54

I always read the St John’s ambulance website in situations such as this.

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Very funny. Yeah. St John's Ambulance, they're a joke, they'll probably treat heatstroke with polo mints, etc.

Their advice is consistent with others though, e.g. the NHS says "Heatstroke is a medical emergency. Get immediate medical help if someone has the symptoms of heatstroke."

Heat exhaustion and heatstroke

Find out about heat exhaustion and heatstroke, which can happen if you get too hot during hot weather.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heat-exhaustion-heatstroke/

tachetastic · 10/07/2026 15:24

UKIsNowAfrica · 10/07/2026 13:25

If I pass out from heat at work how bad is it

If you're a surgeon, airline pilot or lorry driver, I'd say pretty bad.

If you work in accounts, probably not quite so much.

ToohotToohotToohot · 10/07/2026 15:18

UKIsNowAfrica · 10/07/2026 13:25

If I pass out from heat at work how bad is it

What do you mean?

How bad is fainting?

Or how bad is it to faint at work?

What work do you do?

Backedoffhackedoff · 10/07/2026 15:15

StandFirm · 10/07/2026 15:13

which is why I'd say they need medics to assess them, not MN posters who are not with them!

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Oh come on. The nhs clearly says there is no need to call an ambulance when someone. Faints. It’s minor (unless there are other serious symptoms of course)

Felinesonmeshirt · 10/07/2026 15:14

How bad is what? Not nice if you hit your head on the way down I suppose 🤷‍♀️

StandFirm · 10/07/2026 15:13

Backedoffhackedoff · 10/07/2026 15:12

That’s for heat stroke. You have no idea whether OP has heat stroke, or is faint because she’s hot- they’re not the same thing

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which is why I'd say they need medics to assess them, not MN posters who are not with them!

OnTheBoardwalk · 10/07/2026 15:13

Backedoffhackedoff · 10/07/2026 15:10

I mean I guess what else could they do if they were in a tunnel? 🤣

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True, rather a platform than a tunnel! They would just want you off the tube as quickly as possible so they could be on their way

Backedoffhackedoff · 10/07/2026 15:12

StandFirm · 10/07/2026 15:10

Don't listen to me, listen to NHS advice: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heat-exhaustion-heatstroke/
Loss of consciousness is one of the worrying signs warranting emergency response.

That’s for heat stroke. You have no idea whether OP has heat stroke, or is faint because she’s hot- they’re not the same thing

MrsTerryPratchett · 10/07/2026 15:12

StandFirm · 10/07/2026 15:10

Don't listen to me, listen to NHS advice: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heat-exhaustion-heatstroke/
Loss of consciousness is one of the worrying signs warranting emergency response.

LOL x-posted!

MrsTerryPratchett · 10/07/2026 15:11

Backedoffhackedoff · 10/07/2026 15:07

Do you know what % of people who get heatstroke end up in a coma? 🤔

@itchyelbowsandswollenankles i didn’t say it was normal I said it wasn’t unusual. It’s rarely serious though

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People confuse heat exhaustion and heatstroke. One is horrible and manageable, one is absolutely a medical emergency.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heat-exhaustion-heatstroke/

Heat exhaustion and heatstroke

Find out about heat exhaustion and heatstroke, which can happen if you get too hot during hot weather.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heat-exhaustion-heatstroke

StandFirm · 10/07/2026 15:10

Don't listen to me, listen to NHS advice: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heat-exhaustion-heatstroke/
Loss of consciousness is one of the worrying signs warranting emergency response.

Heat exhaustion and heatstroke

Find out about heat exhaustion and heatstroke, which can happen if you get too hot during hot weather.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heat-exhaustion-heatstroke

OriginalSkang · 10/07/2026 15:10

I would call an ambulance for someone who has passed out without a second thought! You have no idea whether someone has a heart condition. They might not know that they have a heart condition!

Backedoffhackedoff · 10/07/2026 15:10

OnTheBoardwalk · 10/07/2026 15:09

I’ve never fainted, am I missing out?

there was a chance of me fainting due to blood pressure for a while. I was advised not to take the tube because if I fainted they would just wait till the next station and roll me out onto the platform.

Thankfully I never found out if this was true or not

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I mean I guess what else could they do if they were in a tunnel? 🤣

OnTheBoardwalk · 10/07/2026 15:09

Backedoffhackedoff · 10/07/2026 14:59

It’s not, people pass out all the time. Haven’t you ever fainted?

when I was younger I used to faint after a hot bath 😂

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I’ve never fainted, am I missing out?

there was a chance of me fainting due to blood pressure for a while. I was advised not to take the tube because if I fainted they would just wait till the next station and roll me out onto the platform.

Thankfully I never found out if this was true or not

StandFirm · 10/07/2026 15:08

itchyelbowsandswollenankles · 10/07/2026 15:05

Never. It’s not normal to faint!

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It doesn't always need to be dramatic- there are many instances in which it's not serious- but passing out from the heat really is bad.

Backedoffhackedoff · 10/07/2026 15:07

StandFirm · 10/07/2026 15:03

With a heatstroke you can end up in a coma very quickly and that can be life threatening. It's not being dramatic. Passing out from the heat is very very serious indeed.

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Do you know what % of people who get heatstroke end up in a coma? 🤔

@itchyelbowsandswollenankles i didn’t say it was normal I said it wasn’t unusual. It’s rarely serious though

itchyelbowsandswollenankles · 10/07/2026 15:05

Backedoffhackedoff · 10/07/2026 14:59

It’s not, people pass out all the time. Haven’t you ever fainted?

when I was younger I used to faint after a hot bath 😂

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Never. It’s not normal to faint!