Summer is coming around again very soon and with it, another chance for heat rash, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. It just does not seem to matter what you tell folks, how much you warn them, or how much education is out there, there are always those who over exert themselves anyway. It is like an addiction. You can explain the dangers of too much sun and yet they will spend the day at the lake, exposed to the sun with no shirt and always wind up at the emergency room, just like last summer.

There Is Always One In The Crowd

They are like those people who take the blood borne pathogens training and still manage to stick themselves with a patient\’s needle. They just do not listen. When the body is unable to remain cool enough to maintain a safe temperature, you have heat exhaustion. Excessive exercise in hot weather coupled with dehydration will overheat a body relatively quickly. Those that are most susceptible are small children, older adults, people who suffer from obesity or those with a chronic illness. The summer also brings out the worst in those who are not in great shape and act as if they are. The symptoms go largely ignored until it is far too late.

– Pounding headache
– Body weakness
– Fatigue
– Dizziness
– Nausea
– Cramps in the muscles, mainly the calves
– Shallow breathing
– Alternating perfuse sweating with cold, clammy skin
– Elevated or below normal body temp

No Alcohol (Of Any Kind)

It is not as if the warning signs are subtle, in fact, they are so obvious that one cannot help but notice. It is these same people who pour beer and other cool alcoholic drinks into themselves thinking that is what they need to cool off. If you are overheating, stay away from alcoholic beverages and do the following

– Find a cool, shady place and remain quiet
– Loosen restrictive clothing
– Drink small frequent amounts of cool water, not cold
– Place a cool damp cloth on forehead
– Lie down with feet elevated
– Beware of signs of shock

Watch For The Signs

Heat stroke is the point where heat exhaustion becomes critical and becomes a medical emergency. Once the body\’s internal temperature hits 104 degrees all of its cooling systems shut down like an anvil. The signs include…

– Hot, dry skin
– Flushed skin that is bright red
– Body temperature of 105 degrees
– Delirium, disorientation, and confusion
– Unconsciousness

A Nice Cool Sponge Bath

Call emergency services immediately and get the overheated person out of the sum. Using wet cloths or sponges begin cooling their skin with cool water. A cool wet sheet works better once you have removed all restrictive clothing. Monitor the victim\’s temperature every ten minutes until help arrives. Stop cooling procedures if their temperature suddenly drops sharply or if you see signs of shock, which includes cool, clammy skin and weak, rapid pulse.

Don\’t Wait In The Car

If you must be in the sun on a hot day, drink plenty of fluids. At least 10 eight-ounce glasses of water per day is required if working or exercising out of doors in the heat. Try to stay in shady places as often as possible and if you even begin to feel weak, seek out an air-conditioned place. Avoid going in and out of extreme changes in temperature. Wear loose fitting, light colored clothing. Try to take it easier in the worst part of the day and never leave anyone alone in a hot car, especially a child or pet.

Author Bio: For more information please visit our HIPAA HITECH website.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: medical emergency,cool water,blood borne pathogens training ,Summer,chronic illness