Do You Know the Signs of Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion?
Summertime is when most outside activities occur. Going fishing, bike riding, jogging, and a myriad of other activities will fill a day or weekend. This is the time to have family fun. However, a hidden danger lurks in the midst.
Heat Exhaustion and Stroke Can Be Lethal
Heat exhaustion and stroke can ruin a family fun day and cause serious health problems. Heat exhaustion left untreated can cause heat stroke, which can be paralyzing and lethal. The best way to ruin your outing is for someone to have a heat stroke.
Heat stroke and heat exhaustion are preventable if you follow some basic guidelines, and know the symptoms.
The old saying an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure fits the bill when it comes to heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
When it is hot outside, minimize your exposure to direct sunlight. Use an umbrella and a hat to cover your head.
Alcohol will keep your body from cooling itself down as well as dehydrate yourself. So don’t drink alcoholic beverages when it is hot outside.
Caffeine drinks will also keep your natural body’s defenses from cooling itself.
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
Your body cannot cool itself if you become dehydrated, so drink lots of non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated fluids like water and sports drinks, even if you don’t think you are thirsty.
Limit your time in direct sunlight, the sun will pull the natural energies from your body and limit your body’s ability to cool itself down.
Symptoms of Heat Stroke
The symptoms and heat exhaustion symptoms are very similar. Therefore, be careful if you expect yourself or one of your family members are in danger of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
It would be best for you to take the responsibility for you and your family to research heat stroke and heat exhaustion online or with your doctor prior to planning an outing in a high heat environment. It will be best to know who is at a high risk and what to do, if something happens. If you even have a small suspicion of heat exhaustion for yourself or your family, get out of the sun, cool yourself down. Cool yourself with cool cloths or cool water. Then, drink plenty of water, cool water if you have it.
Your main priority should be keeping you and your family cool while in the heat.
Signs of a Heat Stroke
According to the Mayo Clinic if you or you love ones have any one of theses symptoms you should remove them from the heat, start cooling them down, lay them down, elevate their feet, and call 911 immediately.
Rapid heartbeat,
Rapid shallow breathing,
Elevated or lower blood pressure,
Cessation of sweating,
Irritability,
Confusion or unconsciousness,
Heat related headache,
Nausea, or
Fainting
These are the most common symptoms of a heat stroke; so don’t hesitate to call 911.
Prepare yourself and your family for the hot summer activities and you will enjoy yourself outdoors in the summer.
