THE RIGHT MOVE
The heat index in Metro Manila reached an all time high of 50 degrees last week. Prior to this, 145 students were reported to have been affected in Occidental Mindoro due to the intense heat. Records of the Department of Education show that seven of these students from San Jose National High School experienced a hard time breathing which led to fainting. Two of them were brought to the hospital while 10 experienced dizziness and headaches.
With the worsening state of weather conditions in the country, from torrential rains one season to the intense heat this time, we need to be wary of heat stroke.
While it sounds like an ordinary effect of hot weather, heat stroke is actually the most serious heat-related illness. This happens when the body’s temperature rapidly rises, followed by the failure of the body’s sweating mechanism, making the body unable to cool down. The body temperature can rise to 41.1 degrees or even higher within a span of 10 to 15 minutes. This is not something simple because heat stroke can actually cause permanent disability and even death.
Fatalities can be prevented if we are prepared by knowing the signs and symptoms of a heat stroke. These include irritability, thirst, excessive sweating, confusion, altered mental status, slurred speech, dry skin, profuse sweating, and extremely high body temperature. If not promptly treated, heat stroke can lead to coma and death.
If someone is experiencing the first signs of heat stroke, call the Philippine Red Cross right away at 143, or go to the nearest hospital. If waiting for medical care, make sure to accompany the victim until help arrives, but make sure to stay in a shaded cool area. Help the person cool down by removing outer clothing, and if possible, cool the body down with cold water or even an ice bath. You can also put cold wet cloths on the skin, particularly on the head, neck, armpits and groin area. Encourage the person to take sips of cool, not cold, water and hydrate, but do not drink sugary or alcoholic beverages to rehydrate as these drinks may interfere with your body's ability to control your temperature. As the person is lying down, elevate the feet.
People who should take extra precaution are the vulnerable, such as the elderly, those with high blood pressure, people working in hot environments such as our traffic enforcers.
Home treatments will not be enough when heat stroke happens, but as part of immediate treatment at home, you can try the following:
1. Immerse in cold water. A cold or ice water bath has been proven to be the most effective way of quickly lowering your core body temperature. The quicker you can receive cold water immersion, the less risk of death and organ damage.
2. If cold water is unavailable, try to lower your body temperature using what is called an evaporation method. This is when water is misted on your body while warm air is fanned over you, to make the water evaporate and consequently cool the skin.
3. Another method is to wrap the body with a special cooling blanket and apply ice packs to the groin, neck, back and armpits to lower the temperature.
4. Ask the doctor what medicine can prevent shivering as that can slow down effects of treatment.
Being in a tropical country, our heat waves can be harsh. With this reality, we should try to limit the amount of time outdoors. Wear protective clothing such as hats and breathable long sleeved clothes. Try to schedule activities during the times of the day when it’s cooler which are the start and end of the day.