High temperatures exceeding 40℃ are coming! This "heat-proof cooling patch" can help you avoid heat stroke

On July 7, the Henan Provincial Meteorological Observatory upgraded and issued a red warning for high temperatures: It is expected that during the daytime of July 7, the highest temperature in some counties and cities north of the Yellow River and in Zhengzhou, northwest of Kaifeng, and north of Luoyang will rise to above 40°C. High temperatures are a risk factor for heat stroke, especially for outdoor workers. How to avoid the heat has become a hot topic in the dog days. If the heat stroke is severe, it may even endanger life due to heat stroke.

How to avoid heat stroke in extremely high temperatures? How to prevent heat stroke? On July 7, the 31st issue of the popular science talk show in the Central Plains hosted by Henan Association for Science and Technology and organized by Dahe.com invited two experts, Li Shengyun, deputy director of the Clinical Skills Training Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, and Wang Peisong, an instructor, to teach everyone how to be alert to heat stroke, a "high temperature killer", in high temperature conditions.

Warning: These people are prone to heat stroke in hot and humid environments

Li Shengyun, deputy director of the Clinical Skills Training Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, introduced that heat stroke refers to a heat injury disease with central nervous system and cardiovascular dysfunction as the main manifestations caused by excessive loss of water and electrolytes and heat dissipation dysfunction in the human body under high temperature environment. Generally speaking, heat stroke is more likely to occur in a humid and hot environment than in a dry and hot environment. When working for a long time or doing heavy physical labor in an environment with a temperature greater than 32°C, humidity greater than 60%, and poor ventilation, and when there are no adequate heatstroke prevention and cooling measures, people with poor adaptability to high temperature environments are prone to heat stroke. There are also some special groups, such as the elderly, pregnant women, the weak, obese, hungry, fatigued, congenitally lacking sweat glands, or extensive skin damage (such as scarred skin after large-area burns) who are prone to heat stroke. In addition, the use of some other drugs such as atropine is also a cause of heat stroke.

Li Shengyun, deputy director of the Clinical Skills Training Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University

Hazards: Heat stroke, a "high temperature killer", is a fatal emergency

Li Shengyun introduced that according to the severity of the clinical manifestations of heatstroke, it can be divided into: pre-heatstroke, mild heatstroke and severe heatstroke.

The precursor to heat stroke usually occurs after being in a high temperature environment for a period of time, and symptoms such as thirst, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, chest tightness, palpitations, sweating, inattention, and uncoordinated movements will appear. The body temperature is normal or slightly elevated, not exceeding 38°C.

Mild heatstroke may include flushed or pale face, nausea and vomiting, chest tightness, dizziness, blurred vision, weakness, sweating, and numbness of the limbs. In addition to the aggravation of the above symptoms, mild heatstroke may also cause the body temperature to rise above 38°C, and early symptoms of circulatory dysfunction will appear, manifested by flushed face, profuse sweating, irritability, and burning skin; or symptoms may include pale face, cold skin and limbs, low blood pressure, increased heart rate, and other signs of collapse.

In addition to the above symptoms, severe heat stroke may also cause shortness of breath, high fever, muscle cramps, low blood pressure, irritability, coma, and even life-threatening. Therefore, heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency and must be taken seriously.

Wang Peisong, instructor at the Clinical Skills Training Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University

"Heat stroke is the most serious type of heat stroke symptoms and is a fatal emergency. Typical symptoms include high fever and impaired consciousness, with body temperature reaching 40-42°C or even higher." Wang Peisong added that heat stroke is divided into two types: exertional and non-exertional. Exertional heat stroke is mainly caused by excessive endogenous heat production during heavy physical labor or strenuous sports in hot, humid, and windless weather. Patients may sweat profusely, with a heart rate of 160-180 beats per minute, increased pulse pressure, and may experience rhabdomyolysis, acute renal failure, liver failure, and multiple organ dysfunction.

Non-exertional is when elderly, weak or chronically ill patients stay in a hot and unventilated environment for too long, which leads to dysfunction of their own temperature regulation, which in turn causes reduced heat dissipation, a sudden rise in core body temperature, and dysfunction of the central nervous system and circulatory system. The main manifestations are dry, hot and red skin, but more than 84% of cases have no sweat. The initial manifestations are abnormal behavior or epileptic seizures, followed by delirium and coma. In severe cases, hypotension, shock, arrhythmia, heart failure, pulmonary edema, cerebral edema, etc.

Treatment: Heat stroke patients must be sent to hospital as soon as possible

"For precursors to heatstroke and mild heatstroke, you should immediately evacuate the high temperature environment, rest quietly in a cool, ventilated place, and take light salt water or cool salty drinks orally. Ask about the condition. If the patient is conscious, ask him or her whether he or she has had dizziness, headache, lack of water, excessive fatigue, etc. Patients with circulatory dysfunction such as low blood pressure and weak pulse should be sent to the hospital as soon as possible and given intravenous drip of glucose saline." Li Shengyun introduced.

Patients with heat stroke must be treated urgently and sent to a doctor as soon as possible. The core body temperature should be reduced to 38.3℃ within 30 minutes after the symptoms are identified. The patient should be transferred to a well-ventilated low-temperature environment, and the clothes should be removed. The skin of the limbs should be massaged to dilate the skin blood vessels to accelerate blood circulation and promote heat dissipation. For patients without circulatory disorders, the whole body should be soaked in circulating cold water (about 20℃) to the neck, or soaked in ice water (about 2℃), and stirred at the same time to increase heat transfer, heat dissipation and cooling. The rectal temperature should be continuously monitored until the end core temperature is reached. For patients with circulatory disorders, evaporative heat dissipation can be used to cool down, such as repeatedly wiping the skin with 15℃ cold water, and using electric fans or air conditioners to accelerate heat dissipation. Ice packs can also be placed on the head, armpits, and groin, and blown with electric fans to accelerate heat dissipation. In rural areas, if the above conditions are not available, well water or spring water can be used for soaking or scrubbing to promote evaporative cooling. "While cooling the patient, it is important to closely observe the patient's condition, keep the patient's airway open, and ensure normal breathing and circulation." Li Shengyun said.

Prevention丨These tips for preventing heat stroke and cooling down can help you avoid heat stroke

How to prevent heat stroke or heat stroke in high temperature conditions? Li Shengyun proposed 7 suggestions:

① When the weather is hot, you should drink water in time regardless of whether you are thirsty or not. Maintaining adequate water intake is the key to preventing heat stroke. Drink plenty of cool water, light salt water, fruit juice or sports drinks containing electrolytes, and avoid drinking too much caffeinated or high-sugar drinks.

②Try to avoid strenuous exercise or outdoor activities during high temperature periods. If you must go out, try to choose the cooler time in the early morning or evening, and avoid being exposed to the sun for too long between 11:00 and 15:00.

③ Choose loose and breathable clothing, and try to choose light-colored and cotton fabrics to better dissipate heat and absorb moisture.

④ Use sun protection tools, such as wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and using sunscreen to protect your head, eyes and skin from direct exposure to the sun.

⑤ If you must work in a high temperature environment, you must take measures to prevent heatstroke and reduce temperature.

⑥ Moderate exercise can help improve heat tolerance. However, you should choose to do mild exercise in a cool place, and try to do it in a cool and ventilated place, such as an indoor air-conditioned room or an outdoor environment with shade. Avoid strenuous exercise.

⑦ Pay attention to diet and nutritional intake, eat a balanced diet, increase the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, and avoid excessive intake of greasy and spicy foods to avoid increasing the burden on the body.

Protection丨Workers who stick to outdoor posts are well prepared with these "equipment"

What should workers who stick to outdoor posts under high temperature conditions pay attention to? What labor protection supplies should be equipped? In this regard, Wang Peisong introduced that for unavoidable outdoor workers, it is also necessary to pay attention to replenishing water, sun protection, allocating working hours, regular and appropriate rest, appropriate clothing, and healthy diet. At the same time, the team's advantages should be used to conduct mutual assistance in health status supervision, reasonably adjust one's emotions and stress, and it is also important to communicate and share with others when necessary. If symptoms of heat stroke such as dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and redness of the skin occur, timely measures should be taken and medical help should be sought.

In a high temperature environment, it is recommended to equip the following labor protection equipment: sunscreen with a high sun protection factor, remember to reapply it every 2 hours; wide-brimmed hat or sun hat; sunglasses; high-collared breathable work clothes; cool scarf; high-temperature resistant gloves; breathable shoes; water bottle or water bottle. If conditions permit, you can equip the workplace with heatstroke-proof and cooling drinks and cooling products, such as salty soda, mung bean soup, soy milk, sour plum soup, etc. It is best to drink small amounts and multiple times. You can also prepare heatstroke-proof and cooling medicines such as Fengyoujing, Huoxiangzhengqishui and Rendan.