July 15, 2021 – Hundreds of Americans died of heat-related illnesses in the recent nationwide heat wave, and this week’s forecast is also pushing temperatures back into triple digits for millions. When thermometers rise to historic levels, many are at risk, from young children attending camps to the elderly seeking shelter from the heat.
Heat-related illnesses can mean heat exhaustion or heat stroke, the latter being more serious and potentially life-threatening. Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat illness that can occur when a person is exposed to high temperatures without drinking enough water. Heat stroke occurs when the internal temperature of the body reaches 104 F or 40 C. Heat stroke can cause seizures or comas and, if left untreated, can lead to heart attacks and death. (Learn more about heat stroke here.)
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The best ways to help someone with heat exhaustion are different from those recommended for someone with heat exhaustion. Here are the best tips:
- Drink cool liquids, especially sports drinks and water. Caffeinated and alcoholic drinks are diuretic and make you pee more, so avoid these. Keep fluids cool instead of cold as cold water can cause stomach cramps.
- Rest in a cool place. This could be an air-conditioned building or at least a shady spot outside. Lie on your back with your legs higher than your heart
- Try cooling measures, such as a cool shower or bath. You can also put towels soaked in cold water on your skin. If you’re outdoors and don’t have a tap, find a cool pond or stream to stand in.
- Loosen your clothes. Take off any clothing you don’t need, and make sure that your clothing is light and does not bind to you.
Unlike heat exhaustion, heat stroke requires immediate medical attention. The most important thing when someone has heat stroke is calling 911 for medical help. While waiting for help to arrive, do the following:
- Take the person to a cool place. Go to nearby air-conditioned buildings or find a shady spot.
- Carry out cooling measures, e.g. B. put the person in a cool shower or bathtub. It can also help to take a sponge, soak it in cold water, and move it over the person’s skin.
- Monitor body temperature. Measure the victim’s temperature and continue cooling measures until the body temperature drops to 101 ° F.
- Have the victim drink when they are awake and able. Stick to water. Avoid sugary drinks. Caffeinated and alcoholic drinks are diuretic and increase urination, so avoid these too. Keep fluids cool instead of cold as cold water can cause stomach cramps.
Safety precautions
These tips will help prevent heat-related illnesses in the first place:
- Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid coffee, tea, and alcohol. Once you are thirsty, you have at least half a liter of residue.
- Limit your exercise in hot and humid environments. Take it easy, especially around noon and early afternoon when the heat is most likely.
- Wear light and breathable clothing.
- Wait to acclimate. If you are not used to high temperatures, wait until you get used to exercising in the heat.
Understand heat-related diseases
Heat stroke can damage human cells that are vital to the central nervous system and other systems, says Grant Lipman, MD, clinical professor of emergency medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine and founder of GOES.health.
“This internal temperature is a combination of both internal temperature induced by metabolic functions and movement and passive exposure to external temperature, minus the body’s ability to give off heat,” he says.
GOES stands for Global Outdoor Emergency Support and is a digital medical guide and emergency support application for outdoor adventurers.
Heat stroke can result from physical exertion – in which case the body can regulate the heat normally, but too much exercise affects the ability to do so.
For example, in hot weather you can get heat stroke after a strenuous exercise without drinking enough water first. Heat stroke can also occur when the body’s temperature-regulating system has failed, which is more likely in the elderly with chronic health problems.
Signs and symptoms of heat illness
The signs of heat stroke and heat exhaustion are different in some ways. Heat exhaustion often causes profuse sweating and pale skin, dizziness or fainting, headache, muscle cramps or weakness, nausea or vomiting, and a rapid pulse. Heat stroke, on the other hand, is characterized by a lack of sweat, along with skin that appears red, hot, and dry. People with heat stroke may also feel confused, have a headache, become dizzy, pass out, have a fast and strong heartbeat, and feel nauseous or vomit.
People prone to heat illness include those who exercise in hot and humid environments, which can include children in summer sports training and camps.
“Fast and fast exercise probably generate more heat than slower exercise, but both can produce significantly increased internal temperatures,” says Lipman.
Exercising in a hot, humid environment limits the body’s ability to cool off by sweating, which increases the risk of heat stroke, he says.
The elderly are at increased risk of heat illness, as are anyone taking medications to treat high blood pressure and heart problems (beta blockers and diuretics) and allergy symptoms (antihistamines).
Obesity is also a risk factor as being overweight can cause the body to retain more heat. People who are not used to high heat, such as those who live in cold climates all year round, are also at greater risk.
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Grant Lipman, MD, clinical professor of emergency medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine; Founder, GOES.health.
Mayo Clinic: “Heat stroke”.
The Washington Post: “Another big heat wave will roast the north of the US and Canada by the weekend.”
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