Heatstroke awareness: Symptoms, prevention, and first aid tips

As the summers are here the temperatures have raised to above 40°C, one should take care of one selves & be aware about the symptoms & precautions to avoid heat related illness. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that the temperature will reach almost around 49°C, in Delhi & surrounding belts, we should be aware & prevent ourselves from heat related injuries.

Heatstroke is a condition caused due to over-heating of the body, usually as a result of prolonged exposure to high temperature or excessive physical exertion in hot sun. Heat related injuries/heat stroke, usually occurs when the body temperature rises to 40°C or higher, more common is summers.

Heat stroke is an emergency & requires urgent treatment, to prevent damage to our vital organs like, kidney, heart, liver & brain. If the treatment is delayed, it can cause serious complications, might lead to ICU hospitalization & even death.

Symptoms
The patient of heat stroke can complain of:

• Headache: One can have throbbing type of headache. Altered mental status, one can be confused or agitated, can complaint of giddiness, won't be able to tell what’s going on, might have slurred speech, irritable and at times experience a seizure.
• The body temperature will be raised, approximately 40°c or above, hence, measures should be taken to immediately lower the temperature.
• The person can complain of nausea & vomiting.
• Difficulty is breathing: patient might have to take deep, rapid & shallow breathing.
• Heart rate might increase & patient will complaint of uneasiness & palpitations. There might be excessive sweating initially, but later the skin becomes dry, hot to touch & red. When the person experiences any of these symptoms, should be immediately taken to the nearby hospital.

Prevention
The National Disaster Management Authority of India, have come up with few precaution measures to make the public aware about the precautions to be taken, like:

• Always carry a water bottle, whenever you go out in the sun. Hydrate yourself sufficiently, drink a lot of water even if you are not thirsty.
• Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, tea, coffee & carbonated drinks.
• One should try & avoid going out in the sun, between 12 noon to 3 pm.
• One should wear light-coloured, light weight, loose fitting, breathable, preferably cotton clothes, which can fully cover the body. Also wear a hat or a cap to cover your head or carry an umbrella while going out.
• Wear dark UV protection goggles & hat or cap/umbrella.
• One should avoid physical strenuous activity in high temperatures.
• One should avoid eating outside food (especially street food) & also avoid eating stale food in summers.
• Use a damp cloth to cover your neck, head or intermittently face while working outside in hot sun.
• Do not leave children & pets in parked cars in summer season.
• Keep pets & animals in shade & give them plenty of water to drink.
• One should keep the house cool, use curtains/sun shades & keep the windows open at night, one should take bath with cold water, use damp clothing.
• If one feels unwell or giddiness or dizziness, then, immediately visit your doctor.
• If there are people travelling from a cold climate to a hot climatic area, they are at high risk of heat related injuries. Such people should stay inside the house and acclimatized themselves for at least one week & then gradually start going out & should drink a lot of liquids.

First aid tipsIf you experience any of the symptoms or dizziness, or if you witness anyone else facing problems, what should you do?
Firstly, move the person to a cooler & covered place in laying position, loosen up the clothes, wipe the body with wet clothe & pour normal temperature water over the head. The main thing is to lower the body temperature.
Secondly, hydrate the person, give water to drink, or ORS with water. Then take the person immediately to nearby doctor or hospital, as the person might require hospitalization for further management, as heat related injuries / heat stroke can have fatal consequences.

(Author: Dr Vinus Taneja, Consultant Physician, Department of Medicine, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital)