Quetta: Every year, hot summers bring the promise of holidays for children living in hot areas, but on the other hand, they also face some serious health problems.
Heat emergencies include muscle cramps from salt depletion, extreme fatigue from dehydration, and heat exhaustion. Many lives are lost during this time. Most at risk are people who spend a lot of time in the sun, such as children, athletes, and workers, or people with weakened immune systems, such as senior citizens and young children, especially infants. Apart from this, many people have a major problem in summer every year with heat rash.
Heat Stroke or Fever
Heat stroke is one of the most dangerous summer-related problems. Nature has designed such a system of glands in the body which produces sweat in summer and keeps the temperature under control. The variation in external temperature manifests itself in the form of different reactions in the human body. 30 degrees Celsius is the optimal temperature for the body, at 33 degrees, sweating begins, at 35 degrees Celsius, the body’s thermoregulatory system is activated, at 38 degrees Celsius, blood clots. At 39 degrees the sweat glands begin to close, at 40 degrees drowsiness, and at 41 degrees death may occur.
In extreme heat, the body can no longer control its temperature, the temperature rises rapidly, and the automatic system of sweating also fails to control the temperature, and the body temperature within 15 minutes. can rise to 106°F or higher and can often lead to permanent disability or death if immediate medical attention is not given.
Symptoms of heat stroke are: depression, weakness, high fever, lack of sweating, hot flushes, profuse sweating, dry, hot and red skin, fainting, nausea or vomiting, fast heart rate, stomach, pain in the arms, legs or muscles, or spasms (heat fatigue), irritability, dilated pupils, constricted pupils, headache, dizziness, thirst, urinary incontinence, death from heat Occurrence of, etc.
First Aid
To provide emergency medical aid to heatstroke victims, call the emergency number immediately and stay with the victim until emergency medical services arrive. Also, try to lower the affected person’s temperature as much as possible using the following methods:
1: Move the patient to a cool and shaded place with adequate ventilation or use a fan.
2: Keep the legs higher than the head.
3: Remove outer clothing.
4: Bathe with cold water as soon as possible and keep cold wet clothes on the body. Especially on the head, neck, armpits, and back. Also, keep running cold water on the clothes you are wearing.
5: Give water and saline drinks (ORS, sarcoid or glucose).
(Note: Fever caused by heat is not cured by medicine.)
Precautions
1: Stay in cool and shady places. Avoid going out in the sun unnecessarily, especially between 10 am and 4 pm.
2: Avoid physical exertion and activity that is likely to raise the temperature.
3: Drink lots of water. Drink salty and carbohydrate drinks every fifteen to twenty minutes.
4: Wear light and loose clothing. Cover your head in the sun and wear sunglasses.
5: Use open shoes and slippers.
6: Consume a balanced diet. Reduce consumption of high protein foods as it increases metabolic heat.
7: Avoid tea, coffee, cold drinks and alcohol.
8: Take special care of children and the elderly. Never leave children in a parked vehicle.
9: Periodically pour cold water on your wrist, this will help cool the blood in the veins.
10: Reduce the use of moisturizer cream.
11: Rest if drowsy.
When should you consult a doctor? When you sweat profusely, feel more tired, your heart rate increases, your skin turns yellow, headaches and dizziness, nausea and vomiting, and stomach or muscle cramps.
When should you go to the emergency department? In case of drowsiness or insomnia. The skin is red, hot, and dry. Body temperature rises above 104 F.
Heat Rash or Heat Rash
Heat rash or heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating during hot and humid weather. Symptoms include red bumps or clusters of small blisters, usually on the neck, upper chest, back, under the breasts, and in the creases of the elbows.
Precautions; If possible, work in a cool and less humid environment, bathe two to three times a day, keep the itchy area dry, apply powders to reduce discomfort, do not use ointments and creams.