Summers are a good time to think about how to avoid dehydration and heat illness. Thousands of people die in Pakistan due to heat-related illnesses. The sad reality is that most of these deaths could have been avoided if the sufferers had a better understanding of dehydration and heat-related sickness.
Rising temperatures have been overtaking Pakistan, forcing toddlers, teenagers, laborers, and office workers to pass out due to heat exhaustion. Extreme weather has even resulted in strokes and deaths in some circumstances. The Pakistan Meteorological Department predicts that the scorching days would continue for some time.
What Do We Mean By Heat Exhaustion?
Heat exhaustion occurs when your body overheats and is unable to cool down. In hot, humid conditions, exercise or other physical activity can cause your body to overheat.
Sweat causes your body to lose fluids during physical exertion. You can become dehydrated if you don’t replace those fluids with water or other beverages. Dehydration can also cause heat exhaustion.
Dizziness, headaches, nausea, muscle cramps, and other symptoms occur as a result of heat exhaustion. Retreat from the heat, rest, and fluids are all part of the treatment. Heat exhaustion can lead to sunstroke, which is a life-threatening condition if left untreated.
Why is Heat Exhaustion Dangerous?
Most of us are unconcerned about heatwaves. We simply express our dissatisfaction with the circumstance and continue our work. Medical professionals, on the other hand, warn that taking the blazing heat lightly might be quite deadly.
It can lead to a series of symptoms like dehydration, dizziness, cramps, etc. These symptoms can also affect major body organs like lungs, kidneys, liver, brain, etc.
What Precautions You Must Take To Prevent Heat Exhaustion?
Heat waves, like any other extreme weather event, have a significant impact on children and the elderly. As a result, appropriate precautions should be taken before these individuals go out in the sun.
Staying indoors where it’s cooler; avoiding excessive physical activity in a hot setting; and restricting outside activities to when it’s coolest, such as morning and evening hours, are among the safeguards. If one must go outside, however, take frequent breaks in shaded areas to allow the body to cool down.
What You Must Do If You Are Taken Down By Heat Exhaustion?
It’s critical to respond quickly if you or someone you love is showing signs of heat exhaustion.
You will need to:
- Get to a cool spot as quickly as possible to chill off.
- Take a cool shower, sit in an air-conditioned building, or find a shady area.
- You can also apply cold water to a washcloth and place it on your brow or the back of your neck.
- Drink small sips of water or an electrolyte-rich sports drink. Drink water for roughly an hour, but not too much, too fast.
- Alcohol and caffeinated beverages should be avoided.
- Stop all physical activities and rest. Allow your body to relax by sitting or lying down.
Final Thoughts
Heat exhaustion is the most severe form of the heat-induced disease. It can cause serious health complications and even death if left untreated.
If you or your kid is showing signs of heat exhaustion, find a cool location to rest and drink plenty of water. If symptoms do not improve after an hour, get medical attention right away.
