Beat The Summer Heat

Presentation

By: Ali Jamal Mohammed JasimPresentation

By: Ali Jamal Mohammed Jasim

Sunstroke is a severe form of heat stroke, which if not treated quickly, can

endanger life. It occurs when the body is unable to regulate its temperature

due to exposure to excessive heat. Much like a thermostat, our body has a

mechanism to control the temperature. This heat regulating system helps

the body stay cool in summer and warm in winters. The body perspires in

summers to stay cool.

Dehydration can lead to sunstroke. The body loses water to excessive

perspiration and if this is not replenished the body takes up water from the

blood stream. This has an impact on the heart and brain. Sunstroke has to

be treated as a medical emergency. Dehydration can also lead to other

complications like difficulty in passing urine, burning sensation and

urinary tract infections.

Symptoms of sunstroke include:

• Dizziness

• Headache

• Rapid pulse rate

• High fever

• Rise in body temperature

• Unconsciousness

• Nausea

• Hallucinations

• Convulsion

Treatment of sunstroke:

Identify the symptoms as early as possible and treat

the condition like an emergency. Try to lower the

body temperature by using ice packs on the head

and covering the body with wet towels. Give fluids

to the patient – electrolyte fluids or fresh lime or

coconut water are recommended. In severe cases

IV fluids may be required.

In case of fits and seizures rush the patient to a

hospital.

What are the treatment options for heat stroke?

Heat stroke is a medical emergency. If you see somebody with heat stroke call for an ambulance straight away…..While you are waiting for the paramedics to come:

• Move the patient to a cool place, preferably air-conditioned. If one is not available, go to a shady area.

•Make sure the place is ventilated. Use a fan or open the windows (don't open windows if it is air-conditioned).

• Try to get them to drink water.

• Do not give any painkilling medications, such as ibuprofen, aspirin or acetaminophen (paracetamol, Tylenol).

• If you can, place them in a cool (not cold) shower.

• If there is one, partly fill a bathtub with cool (not cold) water, sit the person in there and hydrate their skin. Do not fully immerse the person in the water until the paramedics arrive.

• To encourage blood circulation, gently massage their skin.

If the person has a seizure, do not place anything in their

mouth.

• Move nearby objects out of the way.

• If they are unconscious, place them in the recovery position. If

they have vomited, make sure there is no blockage that may

affect breathing.

Hospitalization

When the patient arrives in hospital, the medical team's priority is to get the core temperature down as rapidly as possible. There are two options - internal and external cooling methods.

External cooling methods

o Ice bath - the bath is filled with ice and water and the patient is immersed in it.

o Cooling blankets and ice - the patient in wrapped in cooling blankets and ice packs are placed under the arms, around the head and neck, and in the groin.

o Evaporation cooling - the patient's body is sprayed with a mist of cool water. A fan creates a warm breeze which speeds up evaporation, and thereby heat loss. According to the journal American Family Physician, "Cooling rates with this technique have been measured at 0.31°C (0.56°F) per minute.

Disadvantages of ice baths or

cooling

blankets with ice packs include the occurrence of peripheral vasoconstriction and shivering. With these two methods it is also harder to access the patient if he or she experiences cardiac arrest or bradycardia (very slow heart beat).

Internal cooling methods

Internal cooling methods can bring the patient's core temperature down

more rapidly. Examples include:

o Gastric, bladder and rectal cold-water lavage - these can be done with minimal invasion.

o Peritoneal and thoracic lavage - these are only considered in very extreme cases.

o Cardiopulmonary bypass - an extremely rare but effective cooling method.

Prevention of sunstroke

Schools switch to summer timings after exams but you still need to take

care that on the way back children do not linger about in the sun to play

and get back home quickly.

Adults should try to avoid going out in the heat between noon and 3pm.

The elderly at home should be made to drink water at intervals even if

they are not thirsty. As the constitution is weak in old age the body can

still develop heat stroke conditions even while at home in front of the

cooler.

Wearing loose fitting, light cotton clothes is a good idea.

Keep Plenty of cool drinking water available for everyone.

Avoid excessive physical activity in the mid-day. Workouts and

practices should be completed in the cool early morning hours.

There is 11 of the best summer fruits such as:

• Watermelon

• Berries

• Pineapple

• Mangos

• Kiwi

• Papaya

• Oranges

• Guava

• Passion Fruit

• Peaches

• Startfruit

What type of clothes should we wear in summer?

Cotton Dress, Loose Clothes, Light Color Clothes & half-

length sleeves So That You Will Stay Protected from UV

rays follow these steps you will fell comfortable during

summer season.

Why do you wear cotton clothes during summer?

Because when made into clothing, cotton is light and thin,

meaning you won't become so hot and sweaty like you

would if you were wearing a material such as wool.

What color clothes should you wear during the

summer?

White generally reflects the heat off your body, making it

ideal to wear during the summer months. Black absorbs

heat and therefore, should be avoided during hot days.

Because darker colors absorb more heat than light ones, so

you will stay cooler with white or light clothing that lets

heat escape.