How to help a person with heat and sunstroke

Temperatures in Europe are going through the roof. In the south, forests and trash cans are burning, and in Britain people are trying not to go out. It's so hot in there that things melt.

If you observe an increase in body temperature, reddening of the skin, increased sweating, increased heart rate and respiration, and most importantly - you have spent a lot of time in the sun, you are probably a victim of heat or sunstroke. It is important to understand that the signs of a stroke can manifest themselves not only during exposure to the sun, but also after a few hours.

Heat stroke is the result of a general overheating of the body, including under the influence of sunlight.

Sunstroke (a type of heatstroke) is a condition that develops as a result of prolonged exposure to sunlight on the head and upper neck in hot weather. It is accompanied by headache, weakness, nausea, vomiting, nosebleeds, shortness of breath, fever (sometimes above 40 ° C), pulse disorders, convulsions, sometimes diarrhea and other symptoms. In severe cases - coma and even death. Sunstroke can occur along with heatstroke. The processes occurring in the body during sunstroke and heat stroke are similar.

Particularly at risk of overheating are persons suffering from cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, hypertension, heart defects, obesity, endocrine disorders, vegetative-vascular dystonia, and children. The child may complain of headache, nausea, weakness.

How to help a person with a sunstroke:

• The victim should be taken to a shade or cool place, laid on his back and legs raised.
• His body must be freed from tight clothing, wrapped in wet towels.
• Put a cold compress on your head. It is she who should be given more attention, as the nervous system suffers.
• However, you cannot immerse a person in cold water. in this case, his heart may stop.
• In this case, a person should drink a lot.
• In case of severe symptoms, be sure to contact a medical facility for help. Assistance to a patient with sunstroke is provided by an emergency doctor, and then by a family doctor.

In case of heat stroke (solar), the physician examines the patient's body, and also assesses its temperature. To confirm or refute the dysfunction of various organs, the doctor prescribes the following laboratory tests:

• KLA (clinical blood test);
• Determination of prothrombin time (an indicator of blood clotting);
• Determination of activated partial thromboplastin time (determines the time of formation of a blood clot);
• Determination of the concentration of electrolytes, urea, creatinine, calcium, etc. in the blood serum.

In some cases, he may prescribe a urine test - in order to detect hidden blood in it. Patients with cardiovascular pathologies may need to consult a cardiologist.

How long recovery after heat stroke lasts depends on the length of time spent in unfavorable temperature conditions for the body, the age of the person, the presence of chronic diseases, etc.

It should be remembered that a prolonged violation of thermoregulation can cause an exacerbation of chronic diseases.

How to avoid becoming a victim of overheating:

• In the hot season, light clothing made from natural fabrics should be worn.
• The head should be protected with a headgear, and at high temperatures, moisten it with water.
• You should drink more water, but avoid coffee, tea and alcohol.
• During sunbathing, you should raise your head (put it on a roller or pillow), cover your face.
• Protective goggles must be used.
• Avoid prolonged sun exposure.

Note that in physiology it is believed that a person feels most comfortable at an air temperature of + 18 ° C to + 24 ° C , air humidity from 55% to 70% and wind speed up to 5 m / s.