Heatstroke or sunstroke is a serious heat injury or hyperthermia that can be fatal if it adversely affects or damages the brain or other visceral organs. This is also known as thermic fever and seriasis. People of any age group including infants, adults, the aged, and most often athletes can encounter the adverse signs and symptoms of heatstroke in extreme heat. Any sign of heatstroke or any sort of heat injury makes medical emergency aid mandatory, and thus, this condition requires immediate treatment. Let us discuss the various signs, symptoms, and treatment options of heat stroke.
Various Signs and Symptoms of a Heatstroke
This is the list of some crucial adverse signs and symptoms of a heatstroke.
- Increase in the body’s core temperature to as high as 105 degrees, i.e. an extremely high temperature. This extreme high temperature can damage the internal body organs including the brain.
- Excessive fluid loss or dehydration. This may further cause signs of extremely low blood pressure.
- The skin becoming extremely red, hot, and dry.
- Serious headaches, confusion, and erratic behavior.
- Rapid pulse, with labored or difficulty in breathing. This may also lead to sudden circulatory failure and cause death via restricted pumping by the heart.
- Fainting and loss of consciousness.
Treatment of Heatstroke
Once the signs and symptoms of a sunstroke become apparent, emergency first aid treatments are advisable, with the victim being immediately escorted to the nearest medical center for emergency medical services and effective professional treatment to help control the adverse signs and help the patient recover. These are the emergency first aid or medical treatments for heatstroke and the signs and symptoms of a sunstroke.
First Aid/ Emergency Medical Treatment for a Heatstroke
- Take the patient to a cool place and prevent the heat from growing by loosening restrictive clothing or cutting exposure to the blazing summer sunlight that may be causing the heatstroke. Douse the patient with cold water and try to fan cool air on the appearance of signs and symptoms of thermic fever. This is a crucial treatment measure for siriasis.
- Try to cool the victim’s neck and back, which have blood vessels nearest the skin. This can be done by applying ice packs on these areas.
- Make sure not to give any drink to a victim of a heatstroke. This may worsen the signs and symptoms of the sunstroke by making the body go into shock.
- It is always advisable to take the heatstroke victim to a nearby hospital for immediate treatment and to aid recovery from the dangerous signs and symptoms.
Preventive Measures for Heatstroke
The following ways prevent the adverse signs and symptoms of sunstroke.
- Try avoiding labor-intense outdoor activity during hot summer days.
- Wear light-colored and loose fitting clothes that help reflect the harsh sunlight.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine as they cause fluid loss.
Following these first aid treatments or medical emergency treatments and preventive measures can prevent the adverse signs and symptoms of a heat stroke.
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