How to prevent the most dangerous diseases that can easily occur in severe heat

Anti-dehydration, cover up to prevent heatstroke

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Tien Dung, Department of Pediatrics (Bach Mai Hospital) warned that heatstroke is the most serious disease caused by heat and has a very high risk of occurring on hot days, to everyone, including children.

The disease occurs when the body is no longer able to control its temperature: body temperature increases rapidly, sweating is not enough to release heat, the body cannot cool itself. Body temperature can reach 39.5 degrees Celsius or higher within 10-15 minutes. Heatstroke can lead to death or permanent disability if not treated promptly.

Hanoi is experiencing record-breaking hot days. The intense heat has a serious impact on health, especially heatstroke. Illustration: Tran Thanh

Sharing this view, Doctor Luong Quoc Chinh - Emergency Department, Bach Mai Hospital said that if people with heatstroke do not receive timely emergency care, their lives can be in danger.

Because when suffering from heatstroke, the patient's body temperature rises very high (can be over 39.5 degrees Celsius); Skin is hot, red and dry (no sweating); Pulse is fast and strong; Headache; Dizziness, nausea. More seriously, the child becomes delirious and loses consciousness.

To prevent heatstroke, people who work in the hot sun for a long time must be equipped with the best protective equipment including thick clothes that cover the back of the neck, wide-brimmed hats that cover the top of the head, and prevent dehydration. When the temperature rises and the sun is extremely hot during peak hours from 11am to 3pm, outdoor activities should be limited.

Because all physical activities, hard work... under the current record heat are very dangerous, can cause heat shock, circulatory collapse, brain damage.

Especially children, in hot weather, children still run and play, increasing heat production, combined with the state of being too busy playing and running in and out in the sun, not drinking water, so they easily sweat like bathing, pale body, cramps, fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, fainting; cold and wet skin; fast and weak pulse; fast and shallow breathing show that the child is in a state of heat exhaustion.

If not treated promptly, heat exhaustion can develop into heatstroke. It is necessary to help children lower their body temperature by: giving them cool water to drink, bathing them in cool water, wiping them with a cool towel, taking them to a place with a fan or air conditioner, and dressing them in light, airy clothes.

When you see someone showing signs of heatstroke, such as hot and dry skin, fatigue, headache, discomfort, red face, vomiting and diarrhea. More serious symptoms include hallucinations, altered consciousness, coma, convulsions, etc., you need to quickly move the patient to a shady area and lower the patient's body temperature by any means, such as pouring cool water over the body with a tap or bucket of cool water, wiping the body with a wet towel, etc. If the humidity is low, wrap the patient in a cool, wet cloth and fan vigorously. You need to ask someone to call an ambulance while trying to lower the patient's body temperature.

Monitor body temperature and continue cooling measures until the temperature drops to 38.5 or 39 degrees Celsius.

Drink water properly

Associate Professor Dung recommends that hot, sunny weather makes the body sweat a lot, causing dehydration and electrolyte loss, especially in children, which can easily lead to metabolic disorders. On hot days, people need to drink a lot of water, especially those who work outdoors, and lose a lot of water, so they should drink lemon juice or diluted salt water, Oresol water, coconut water, filtered water, etc.

However, drink water properly, do not wait until you are thirsty to drink a whole glass, but actively drink even when you are not thirsty. Especially the elderly and children should always be proactively reminded to drink water to prevent the risk of dehydration.

Ensuring your body is hydrated, having sun protection when going outside, and limiting going outside during peak heat times will help prevent the risk of dangerous heatstroke.

When dehydrated, children show signs such as: Dry lips, thirst, little or no urine, concentrated, dark urine; Crying without tears; Children are fussy, irritable; Appearing lethargic, lethargic, tired; In severe cases, children show signs of: sunken eyes, sunken fontanel, nausea, vomiting, lethargy or coma.

Make sure your body is hydrated. A person doing physical activity in a hot environment can drink 0.5-1 liter of cool water per hour), limit alcoholic drinks because they increase dehydration.