Summer is a popular time for tourism, recreation in hot countries, on the beach or in the country. Warm weather makes it possible to spend holidays and vacations in the fresh air. However, the sun's rays and heat can have not only a positive, but also a negative effect on the human body. Sometimes they provoke a deterioration in well-being. How to behave in such a case? Everyone needs to have an idea of first aid for heat stroke.
The harmful effects of hot weather on the body
Under the influence of excessive heat and the rays of the sun, a person can overheat. If, as a result of these factors, the body temperature rises to 37 degrees, there is a sharp deterioration in well-being. Sometimes there is a loss of consciousness. This situation is due to the fact that adverse environmental factors disrupt the normal functioning of the human body systems.
Many at least once in their lives have encountered a situation where, after a long exposure to the sun, there is weakness, pain in the head, increased need for sleep, and profuse sweating.
How to recognize a pathology?
First of all, speaking of first aid for heat stroke, it is necessary to clearly indicate the symptoms of this condition. Its signs are:
- Severe lethargy.
- Nausea and bouts of vomiting.
- Headache.
- A strong temperature increase - up to 40 degrees.
- Dry and hot skin.
- An increase in the frequency of myocardial contractions.
- Dizziness.
- Respiratory disorders
- Visual Function Disorders.
- Bleeding from the nose.
- Muscular aches and joints.
- Sudden changes in blood pressure.
- Impairment of motor coordination.
- Red skin tone.
In sunstroke and heat stroke, first aid involves the use of similar methods, since the symptoms of these conditions are identical.
Circumstances that increase the risk of ailments
Most often, such pathologies are observed in the following categories of individuals:
- Minors.
- Diabetes patients.
- Individuals suffering from vascular and myocardial pathologies.
- Persons with dermatological ailments.
- People addicted to alcohol.
- Patients with thyroid disease, overweight.
- Persons of advanced age.
Therefore, the risk of pathologies increases in the presence of such conditions:
- Abuse of alcohol-containing products in hot weather.
- Excessive physical activity.
- Dehydration.
- Lack of sweat.
- Lack of nutrients in the body.
- Hard work in a hot room or outdoors in sunny weather.
Timely first aid for thermal shock will avoid dangerous complications and exacerbation of chronic pathologies in the victim.
How to alleviate the condition of the patient?
If someone close has the symptoms of this ailment, you need to call an ambulance as soon as possible.
However, please note that doctors will arrive in at least 10-15 minutes. Therefore, some medical measures should be taken at home. Otherwise, the patient may develop severe complications.
The procedure for first aid for thermal shock is as follows:
- A person needs to be moved to a cool place, in the shade and to provide sufficient fresh air.
- It is necessary to free the patient's body from tight clothes, remove belts, shoes, unfasten the buttons, collar.
- You should fan it with a sheet of paper or turn on the fan.
- To prevent dehydration, the patient is given cool water. In addition, you need to slightly moisturize the skin.
- If possible, take the patient to a shower or cover his body with a damp towel.
- Cool lotions should be placed on the chest, knees, elbows and forehead.
- If there are burns on the surface of the skin, the damaged parts of the body are covered with a layer of special medicines (Panthenol, Bepanten).
- In case of blood supply disorders, the limbs are rubbed with alcohol. A pillow should be placed under the feet.
- In case of loss of consciousness, the patient is allowed to smell cotton wool moistened with ammonia.
- When the patient's condition worsens sharply, first aid for heat stroke includes closed myocardial massage, artificial respiration.
Further Therapies
Sometimes after the procedures, the patient's well-being stabilizes. However, this does not mean that you can not follow his health. It is necessary to constantly monitor the condition of a person with this ailment. It should be remembered that the rules of first aid for heat stroke are aimed at preventing dehydration - a dangerous phenomenon that disrupts the entire body. Therefore, it is important to give the patient a sufficient amount of fluid, in small volumes, but often.
Advice on its use is discussed in the next section.
Drinking mode
You can offer the patient water, mineral water, berry fruit drinks. Soda, energy and coffee in this condition are strictly prohibited. Drinks should be sugar free, slightly warm. In addition, a decoction of St. John's wort helps to cope with lethargy and weakness. 2 small tablespoons of dried raw materials in powdered form are combined with boiling water in an amount of 1 cup. Insist about 10 minutes. The drug is used three times a day. The recommended single dose is a third of a glass.
In case of malfunctioning of the myocardium and blood vessels, a person needs to consult a doctor. In such cases, the specialist usually recommends Validol or Valocordin.
Sometimes the provision of first aid after thermal shock is enough to stabilize the patient.
Inpatient Therapy
With a sharp deterioration in well-being, the patient is hospitalized. This measure is necessary for serious respiratory disorders and problems with the activity of the heart muscle. To prevent serious complications (the development of cerebral edema, myocardial dysfunction), doctors carry out a number of activities in a hospital. First aid for thermal shock includes:
- The introduction of solutions of salts and glucose to restore the balance of the necessary substances in the patient's body.
- The use of stabilizing the myocardium (nitroglycerin, "Cardicet", "Monos").
- The use of drugs that prevent the occurrence of seizures ("Lamotrigine", "Ethosuximide", "Topiramat").
- Medications that lower body temperature (Paracetamol, Ibuprofen).
- The use of a ventilator in case of malfunctioning of the respiratory system.
How to prevent the development of a dangerous condition?
In order to avoid sunstroke and warm shock, it is necessary to adhere to the following recommendations:
- Observe safety rules when in hot rooms.
- Limit your stay outdoors on hot days. You should not go outside from 12 to 16 hours, since at this time the sun's rays negatively affect the body.
- In summer, it is imperative to wear a panama hat, hat or cap.
- Give preference to light, loose clothing made from natural fabrics.
- Limit physical activity on hot days. It is better to go in for sports not in the first half of the day, but in the evening hours.
- To prevent dehydration, it is important to consume a sufficient amount of fluid. It is necessary to give preference to water or mineral water. Juices, tea or kefir should be drunk in moderation. It is better to refuse alcohol completely.
- It is necessary to exclude fatty, spicy and sweet foods. You should eat often, but in small volumes, include fresh fruits and vegetables in the diet (especially melons, peaches, cucumbers, oranges, watermelons).
- It is important to remember the principles of first aid for heat stroke in order to prevent the development of dangerous complications of this ailment.