First Aid For Heatstroke: Signs Of Shock, Prevention

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

First aid for heatstroke

Heatstroke is a medical emergency that occurs as a result of overheating of the body as a result of excessive heat exposure from outside. Usually, the body copes with functioning in conditions of high ambient temperatures using the thermoregulatory mechanism, but with heat stroke, thermoregulation is disrupted, which leads to serious dysfunction of the cardiovascular and nervous systems. This condition is life-threatening - in the stage of decompensation, death occurs in about a third of cases. A person's life may depend on how correctly and quickly first aid is provided for heatstroke.

Signs of threatening and impending heatstroke

Heatstroke is an acute form of overheating, therefore, as its prevention, it is advisable to take measures when the first signs of overheating of the body appear. Such signs usually appear at ambient temperatures above 40 ° C. These include a deterioration in general health, lethargy, weakness, drowsiness, flushing of the skin, increased sweating, headache. These symptoms indicate the need to cool the body and increase the drinking regime to compensate for the loss of moisture.

If, with these signs, the body temperature rises to subfebrile values (37.5 ° C and above), this may mean the approach of heatstroke.

Depending on the severity of the violations, there are three forms of this condition, each of which is manifested by the following symptoms:

1. Mild heatstroke: unwillingness to move (weakness), nausea, intense headache, increased heart rate and breathing, increased sweating. Body temperature can be normal, or rise to 37-37.5 ° C;
2. Moderate heatstroke: headache, nausea, vomiting, weakness, heart palpitations and breathing, impaired coordination of movements, fainting, nosebleeds are possible. Body temperature can rise to 40 ° C;
3. A severe form of heatstroke is characterized by confusion of consciousness (hallucinations, psychomotor and speech excitement may appear) or its loss, the appearance of seizures, superficial rapid breathing, tachycardia (the pulse reaches 120-140 beats per minute).

When the risk of getting heatstroke is increased

Heatstroke can occur to anyone who has been exposed to high ambient temperatures for a long time. Such a temperature is considered to be 40 ° C and above, although in fact, a serious risk of overheating arises already at 35 ° C. An important role is played by the occupation of a person at this time, the most susceptible to heatstroke are those people who exhibit increased physical activity in hot conditions: workers in hot shops, athletes during training, military men during a march, etc. People who have problems with thermoregulation are also at risk. These are children, elderly people and those who have chronic diseases associated with metabolic disorders, as well as insufficiency of the functions of the autonomic and cardiovascular systems.

First aid measures for heatstroke

It is not difficult to find that a person needs first aid for heatstroke. Without going into details, action should be taken whenever there is reason to believe that it is acute, i.e. sudden deterioration is associated with overheating. In such a situation, you should:

1. Transfer (transfer) the victim to a cooler place, for example, in an air-conditioned room or at least in the shade;
2. Get rid of excess clothing, loosen pressing parts of clothing, providing an influx of fresh air;
3. If a person is conscious, give him cool water, as well as coffee or tea, which have a tonic effect on blood vessels, thereby stimulating cardiovascular activity. However, it should be borne in mind that coffee or tea is not a substitute for water. can increase dehydration. They should be offered not instead of water, but together with water;
4. The victim should be laid down with his legs slightly raised;
5. Put cold compresses on the forehead, heart area, folds of arms and legs (elbows, knees, armpits) or pour them with cool water.

In the case of a mild form of heatstroke, these measures are enough to improve and restore body functions. Usually, the victim feels much better after 10-15 minutes.

With heatstroke of moderate severity, improvement occurs in about 30-40 minutes, but signs of malaise, such as weakness and headache, can persist for quite a long time - up to a day.

If, after providing first aid, the expected improvement does not occur, you should seek medical help.

First aid for heatstroke in a severe form should be provided in the same way, however, an ambulance should be called immediately, since there is a high risk of violations of vital functions of the body. While waiting for the arrival of an ambulance, you should be prepared for resuscitation in case of cardiac arrest.

First aid for sunstroke

Sunstroke is a form of heatstroke that occurs when overexposed to direct sunlight. Sunstroke can be accompanied by burns if a person in open clothes or without them has spent too much time in the sun, but it is a mistake to think that it can be exposed only by sunbathing for a long time. In fact, exposure to direct sunlight on an uncovered head is sufficient to cause sunstroke.

Signs of sunstroke are darkening in the eyes and / or flashing before the eyes "flies", headache, nausea (sometimes accompanied by vomiting), facial flushing. Since sunstroke is a manifestation of heatstroke, all symptoms accompanying heatstroke can also accompany it.

First aid for sunstroke is provided in the same way as for heat.

Prevention of heat and sunstroke in the hot season

A feature of this pathology is its predictability. Of course, it is difficult to assume that a person will be exposed to heatstroke, but it is quite possible to predict an increased risk based on available environmental data. This is why prevention measures come to the fore. The most dangerous season for heatstroke is summer. In order to minimize the possibility of overheating, you should follow the rules of behavior during the heat:

• Try not to be in the open sun for too long, and being on it for more than half an hour, cover your head with a panama hat. The best place for walking on a hot sunny day is in the shade of trees;
• Try not to go out in the period from 12.00 to 16.00, since at this time of the day the summer heat is at its peak;
• To dress in summer in loose-fitting clothing made of light, light-colored fabrics that are well breathable;
• Observe the drinking regime. Sweating is one of the most important thermoregulatory mechanisms, however, with the release of sweat, the body loses a significant amount of fluid, which must be replenished so that dehydration does not occur. In the summer, an adult needs to drink at least two liters of water per day, and in some situations (extreme heat, physical activity), much more. It should be remembered that sugary carbonated drinks, beer, tea, coffee, tonics are not able to replace water, since they increase the secretion of fluid - when they are used, the body releases more water than it gets inside. In extreme heat, you can drink slightly salted water - salt promotes fluid retention in the body;
• Reduce the amount of heavy food in the diet, giving preference to light vegetable dishes, fruits and fermented milk products.

Parents should remember that in children, the thermoregulation mechanism is imperfect due to age, therefore, children are much more likely than adults to be at risk of overheating in the hot season, especially given their high physical activity. Therefore, all of the listed rules must be applied to them in the first place.

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