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Stinging hot weather has become daily food for people living in tropical countries like Indonesia. But besides making the skin stifling and burning, too long physical activity outside the room when the sun's rays are fierce can increase the risk of heat stroke, aka heat stroke. Heat stroke is a medical emergency, not just overheating. If not treated immediately, heat stroke can lead to damage to the brain and other organs in the body, even death. Check out this article to find out how to prevent heat stroke in hot weather.
Overview of heat stroke
Heat stroke is a condition when your body temperature rises sharply and suddenly and quickly, but your body is unable or does not have enough time to cool off. As a result, you feel very hot, not only from outside your body but also from inside.
Heat stroke usually occurs when a person receives exposure to hot temperatures from the surrounding environment outside the tolerance limits of his body, for example when the weather is unusually hot. Heat stroke can also be triggered by fatigue due to high-intensity physical activity that can raise body temperature, such as exercise during the day for a long time.
Signs and symptoms heat stroke , including:
- High fever (40º C) or more
- Heavy sweating
- Headache, headache, lightheadedness, dizziness
- Red and dry skin
- Slowed response rate
- Heart beats fast; sudden pulse spike
- Behavior changes such as confusion, confusion, irritability, and anxiety
- Nauseous vomit
- Quick breath
- Seizures
- Fainting (loss of consciousness), as the first sign in an advanced adult
Tips for preventing heat stroke when it is scorching hot
Basically, heat stroke is a predictable and preventable condition. Follow these steps to prevent heatstroke in hot weather.
- Wear loose, light-colored, lightweight clothing. Wearing thick, tight clothes in hot weather will not allow your body to circulate properly.
- Wear sunscreen. In addition to preventing sunburn, using sunscreen can affect your body's ability to cool off. Apply sunscreen evenly to the area most exposed to the sun every 2 hours, or more frequently if you swim or sweat a lot. You can choose a sunscreen that contains SPF 50.
- Drink lots of fluids. If you are required to do strenuous activities in hot weather, fill your fluid intake with lots of drinking and frequent breaks in cool places such as in an air-conditioned room. Staying hydrated will help your body maintain a normal body temperature. The reason is, all health problems associated with hot weather can be caused by a lack of salt in the body. You can also stay hydrated by consuming an electrolyte-rich sports drink during days of extreme sun and hot air.
- Do not leave people in the car with the engine off. Many people don't realize the dangers of this one. In fact, leaving people in the car with the engine off is a common cause of heat-related death, especially among children. When the car is parked in the sun, the temperature in the car can rise 6 to 7 degrees Celsius from normal conditions in 10 minutes.
- Avoid doing sports in broad daylight, when the weather is hot. Try scheduling exercise or other physical activity when the temperature has gotten a little lower, for example in the morning or evening.
- Find shelter. Limit the time you spend doing physical activity in the heat until you become accustomed to the climate, environment, and conditions in the new place. The reason is, people who are not used to hot weather are very susceptible to heat-related diseases.
- If you participate in a sporting event or strenuous activity in hot weather, make sure there are medical services available in case of a heat emergency.
