First aid at heatstroke

Heatstroke – the medical emergency arising as a result of overheating of an organism as a result of excessive thermal influence from the outside. Usually the organism copes with functioning in the conditions of high temperature of the environment by means of the thermal control mechanism, but at heatstroke thermal control is broken that leads to serious violation of functions of cardiovascular and nervous systems. This state is life-threatening – in a decompensation stage the lethal outcome comes approximately in a third of cases. From that, how correctly first aid at heatstroke is also quickly given, human life can depend.

Signs of the menacing and come heatstroke

The heatstroke is an acute form of an overheat therefore as its prevention it is desirable to take measures at emergence of the first signs of overheating of an organism. Such signs usually appear at the ambient temperature exceeding 40 °C. Deterioration in overall health, slackness, weakness, drowsiness, a dermahemia, the strengthened sweating, a headache concern to them. These symptoms indicate the need coolings of an organism and strengthening of the drinking mode for moisture loss compensation.

If at these signs body temperature to subfebrile values rises (37,5 °C and above), it can mean heatstroke approach.

Depending on weight of disturbances, distinguish three forms of this state, each of which is shown by the following signs:

1. Heatstroke benign: unwillingness to move (adynamia), nausea, an intensive headache, a cardiopalmus and breath, the strengthened sweating. Body temperature can be normal, or raise to 37-37,5 °C;
2. Moderately severe heatstroke: the headache, nausea, vomiting, an adynamia, a cardiopalmus and breath, a lack of coordination of movements, are possible faints, nasal bleedings. Body temperature can increase to 40 °C;
3. The severe form of heatstroke is characterized by confusion of consciousness (hallucinations can develop, psychomotor and speech excitement) or its loss, emergence of spasms, shallow hurried breathing, tachycardia (pulse reaches 120-140 beats per minute).

When the risk of receiving heatstroke is increased

The heatstroke can arise at any person who underwent long influence of high temperature of the environment. Such temperature it is considered to be 40 °C and above though actually serious risk of an overheat arises already at 35 °C. An important role is played by an occupation of the person at this time, those people who in a heat show the increased physical activity are most subject to heatstroke: workers of hot workshops, athletes during the training, military during a battle march, etc. In a zone of risk there are also people having problems with thermal control. These are children, people of advanced age and those who have the chronic diseases connected with disbolism, and also insufficiency of functions of vegetative and cardiovascular system.

Measures for first-aid treatment at heatstroke

To find out that the person needs first aid at heatstroke, simply. Without going into details, it is necessary to take measures in all cases when there are reasons to believe that acute, i.e. suddenly come, the aggravation of symptoms is connected with an overheat. In such situation follows:

1. To translate (to transfer) the victim to more cool place, for example, to the conditioned room or at least in a shadow;
2. To save from excess clothes, to weaken the pressing parts of clothes, having provided inflow of fresh air;
3. If the person is in consciousness, to give to drink him cool water, and also coffee or tea which have tonic effect on vessels, stimulating with that cardiovascular activity. However it must be kept in mind that coffee or tea are not water replacement since can strengthen organism dehydration. It is necessary to offer them not instead of water, and together with water;
4. The victim should be laid, having slightly raised legs;
5. On a forehead, area of heart, bends of hands and legs (elbow, knee bends, armpits) to put cold compresses or to water them with cool water.

At an easy form of heatstroke of these measures it is enough that there occurred improvement, and functions of an organism were recovered. Usually the victim in 10-15 minutes feels much better.

At heatstroke of moderate severity improvement occurs approximately in 30-40 minutes, however indisposition signs, such as weakness and a headache, can remain quite long time – about one days.

If after first-aid treatment of the expected improvement did not come, it is necessary to ask for medical assistance.

First aid at heatstroke in a severe form needs to be given also, however it is necessary to call immediately the ambulance as there is a high risk of disturbances of the vital functions of an organism. Waiting for arrival of ambulance it is necessary to be ready to holding resuscitation actions in case of a stop of cordial activity.

First aid at a heliosis

The heliosis is one of heatstroke forms arising at excessive influence of direct sunshine. The heliosis can be followed by burns if the person in open clothes or in general without it spent too much time for the sun, but it is wrong to think that it can undergo, is only long sunbathing. Actually for emergence of a heliosis there is enough impact of direct sunshine on the uncovered head.

Signs of a heliosis are blackout and/or the "front sights" flashing before eyes, a headache, nausea (sometimes accompanied with vomiting), a hyperemia of the person. As the heliosis is heatstroke manifestation, all signs accompanying heatstroke can also accompany it.

First aid at a heliosis is given as well as at thermal.

Prevention thermal and a heliosis in hot season

Feature of this pathology is its predictability. Of course, it is difficult to assume that the person will undergo heatstroke, but to predict the increased risk on the basis of the available data on the environment quite perhaps. That is why to the forefront there are prevention measures. The most dangerous season concerning heatstroke – summer. To minimize a possibility of overheating, it is necessary to follow rules of conduct during a heat:

• To try not to be in the open sun too long, and being in it more than half an hour to cover the head with a hat. The best place for walks in hot sunny day – in a shadow of trees;
• To try not to go outside during the period from 12:00 till 16:00 as at this time day the summer heat is at peak;
• To put on in the summer in the clothes of loose fit made of the light, light fabrics which are well passing air;
• To observe the drinking mode. Sweating is one of the most important mechanisms of thermal control, however with release of sweat the organism loses a significant amount of liquid which needs to be filled that there did not come dehydration. In the summer the adult needs to drink not less than two liters of water a day, and in some situations (a strong heat, physical activity) significantly more. It is necessary to remember that sweet carbonated drinks, beer, tea, coffee, tonics are not capable to replace water as strengthen release of liquid - at their use the organism emits more water, than gets inside. During a strong heat it is possible to drink slightly the added some salt water – salt promotes a liquid delay in an organism;
• To reduce amount of heavy food in a diet, having given preference to easy vegetable dishes, fruit and fermented milk products.

Parents have to remember that at children the mechanism of thermal control is imperfect owing to age therefore children much more adults are subject to risk of overheating in hot season, especially taking into account their high physical activity. Therefore all listed rules need to be applied to them first of all.