Those affected: Mainly little children and older people.
The Creator has made a small part in the brain called the Hypothalamus which works as the Thermostat for our body.
Hyperthermia: A condition in which the body core temperature increases more than a 100 degree Fahrenheit or more than 38 degrees centigrade
This article is more relevant to those living in the Tropical Areas and those who visit these regions during summer-time.
A FEW STEPS TO PREVENT A HEAT-STROKE.
Firstly, DO NOT GO OUTDOORS LATER THAN MID-DAY.
Secondly, if you need to go outdoors, after returning home, just pour few mugs of room-temperature water on your body and wipe yourself. The heat gets dissipated off your body while you do this and the thermo-regulator, the Hypothalamus does not have much work to control temperature.
Thirdly, HYDRATION: In summer-time Adults: 4-6 litres of fluids.
Children: Between 5-12 years of age 2-3 litres of water.
1-5 years of Age up to 1 or 1.5 litres of fluids (water).
0 age to 6 months. (NO WATER OR ANY FLUID APART FROM BREAST-FEEDING UNTIL 6 MONHTS. ONLY EXCLUSIVE BREAST FEEDING).
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF A HEAT-STROKE.
Raise of Body temperature
Head ache
Dizziness
Malaise (extreme fatigue or weakness)
Fainting or loss of conciousness for a few seconds.
IMMEDIATE FIRST AID.
1)Immediately bring the patient under a Air-Conditioned room (room temperature maintained between 20 -24 degree centigrade. (Too low temperatures can make the patient go into vaso-vagal or renal shock rarely.)
2)Tepid sponging – Wipe the body with a cloth dipped in water at the areas like the neck, arm-pits and the groin area. Wiping the forehead also may help. *Keep sparse clothes on for the patient.
3)Intravenous Hydration- A hospital set-up is needed for that. A refrigerated (around 24 degree centigrade) Intravenous DNS, one pint over 4 hours.
4)Temperature monitoring every four hours in the ‘intensive phase’ (first 24 hours).
By then the intensive phase is taken care at home, the patient can be taken to a local hospital for Intravenous fluids and Temperature monitoring.
If the first two steps were taken immediately at Home there may be a less chance that a Hospital visit be needed.
THIS IS NOT A FEVER. THEREFORE NO NECESSITY OF BLOOD INVESTIGATIONS OR WHATSOEVER. SO DO IT HOME AND SAVE YOUR BELOVED ONES.
Dr. Zeff
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