... and with it comes the risk of heat exhaustion. MiD DAY brings you a lowdown on the precautions you can take to avoid becoming a victim of the condition and the things you can do to help others in distress
... And with it comes the risk ofu00a0 heat exhaustion. MiD DAY brings you a lowdown on theu00a0 precautions you can take to avoid becoming a victim of the condition and the things you can do to help others in distressWith mercury levels soaring in the city already, Mumbaikars need to gear up to face some really scorching afternoons in the next couple of months.
If you are exposed to long hours in the sun, resulting in heavy sweating, you could be a victim of heat exhaustion. Private and government hospitals in the city treat hundreds of patients showing symptoms of heat exhaustion every summer.
In medical terms, heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures. The body's condition worsens since there is an inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids.
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The elderly, people with high blood pressure and people working or exercising in high temperatures are most prone to heat exhaustion.
"Heat exhaustion occurs in a patient if he/she is exposed tou00a0 hot temperatures for a prolonged period and the body undergoes excessive loss of fluids and salt in the form of sweat," explained Dr Pratit Samdani, associate professor and internist, Jaslok and Saifee hospitals.
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"To treat and avoid the condition, the body fluids need to be replenished constantly and the body temperature needs to be maintained."
Don't confuse heat exhaustion with heat stroke. According to medical experts, a heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency in which the body is unable to regulate its core temperature. As the body's water and salt supplies dwindle, its temperature rises to extreme levels.
This requires immediate medical attention and should be treated as an emergency case. Some of the symptoms include Body temperature rising to 105 F or higher, dilated pupils, rapid pulse and extreme disorientiation. The patient may become unconscious, suffer from convulsions and slip into a coma
Here's a to-do list to avoid heat exhaustion:
Look out for these symptoms:1.u00a0 Dizziness
2. Headache
3. Paleness
4. Nausea
5. Disorientation
6. Fainting
7.u00a0 Muscle cramps
8. Fatigue
How you can prevent it:1. Take plenty of fluids like water and fruit juices
2. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine
3. Avoid going out in the afternoon, when theu00a0 sun is at its peak
4. Wear light coloured cotton clothes
5. Use a hat that is wide-brimmed.
What you can do to help a person showing symptoms:1. Shift him to a cool,u00a0 shady place
2. The legs should be at a higher level than
the head
3. Remove part of the person's clothing to give him breathing room
4. Wrap him in a wet, cold sheet
5. Keep spraying cold water on him
6. Put on the fan and allow air to circulate
7. Apply ice packs on the neck and under the armpits
8. Make him drinku00a0 water mixed with salt at regular intervals
9. Stretch and massage cramped muscles
