Deadly "killer" under high temperature

In the hot summer, high temperature red alerts are issued frequently. But no matter how hot the weather is, there is always a voice that seems to never stop - "It's bad to use air conditioning, it hurts people!" Many elderly people do not turn on air conditioning because they are worried about diseases or to save electricity bills, which often leads to tragedies. High temperatures in summer can induce an extreme disease - heat stroke, which is the most serious stage of heat stroke and directly threatens people's lives, especially the elderly. Under high temperature conditions, if they do not turn on air conditioning, they are more likely to get heat stroke.

What is heat stroke?

Heat stroke, also known as severe heatstroke, is caused by the human body being exposed to high temperature for a long time, which leads to an imbalance in the body's temperature regulation function, causing a sudden rise in body temperature to exceed 40°C, accompanied by the triad of coma, impaired consciousness, and sweating, as well as a serious clinical syndrome of multiple organ system damage.

Heat stroke warning signs:

Hot: Feeling hot in the body (heat from the inside out)

Shaking: unusual tiredness, unsteady walking

Dizziness: dizziness, confusion, convulsions

Disorder: symptoms such as pale face, palpitations, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

How to prevent heat stroke?

1. Replenish water in time: When you feel thirsty and want to drink water, it means that the water deficiency in your body has reached 2% of your body weight. If it continues to exceed 2% of your body weight, you are very likely to suffer from heat stroke or even heat stroke. You can drink sugar water, salt water, or cold mung bean soup, cold hawthorn juice, honeysuckle tea, chrysanthemum tea, etc. Avoid drinks containing caffeine and alcohol.

2. Prepare for heatstroke prevention before going out: Avoid going out in hot weather. If you must go out, avoid going out between 10:00 and 16:00 (when the shortwave radiation from the sun is strongest), and apply sunscreen half an hour before going out. Move or rest in the shade as much as possible to avoid direct sunlight. Prepare sun hats, parasols and other equipment when going out. If you need to go out for a long time, you should prepare plenty of water, and if possible, you can carry Fengyoujing, Huoxiangzhengqishui, etc.

3. Avoid "rapid cooling" after being heated: When you come back from going out in the hot summer, set the air conditioner or fan temperature very low, or take a cold shower immediately. This will cause the pores all over the body to close quickly, making it difficult for the heat in the body to dissipate. It will also cause insufficient blood supply to the brain due to the rapid contraction of blood vessels in the brain, causing dizziness.

4. Avoid the dangers of high temperatures in the car: Even in cool weather at 22°C, with the windows slightly open, the temperature inside the car can reach over 40°C within an hour. Pay attention to the high temperatures inside the car, choose a suitable parking spot, use sun visors, and turn on the air conditioner for ventilation. Be especially careful not to leave infants or children alone in the car.

5. Adaptive training: Exercise in a hot environment should be gradual, and the intensity should be gradually increased in early summer. For those who need to work in high temperatures, the intensity of work should be gradually increased to allow the body to adapt. Outdoor training and work when sick are not recommended.

Emergency response measures

1. Move:

Quickly carry the patient to a ventilated, cool, dry place, unbutton, loosen or take off clothes, and tilt the head to one side to prevent vomitus from blocking the airway.

2 Cooling:

You can use ice water or cold water for full body sponge bath. Continue to effectively cool down, and reduce the core body temperature to below 39℃ within 30 minutes and below 38.5℃ in about 2 hours. Stop cooling after reaching normal body temperature.

3. Hydration:

If the patient is conscious, some cool drinks can be given. If the patient has involuntary muscle twitching, food and water are prohibited.

4. Assess the state of consciousness:

If there is no response to the call, and the person has stopped breathing or heartbeat, you should call 120 for help immediately. Trained personnel can perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation immediately.

5. Transfer:

During the transfer, physical cooling should not be interrupted. According to the principle of "cooling first, transfer second", ice packs should be applied to the patient's neck, armpits and thighs as much as possible to protect important organs such as the brain, heart and lungs.

Pay attention

Here, we need to remind everyone that the key to reducing the mortality rate of heat stroke lies in prevention. Only by understanding its hazards and preventive measures can we hold up a "protective umbrella" for our health in the hot summer. Let us work together to scientifically respond to the challenges of high temperatures and spend every hot summer in peace.