Hot Weather Risks
We live in a sunburnt country where hot days and heatwaves can stress our bodies. While most people find extremely hot weather and heatwaves uncomfortable, some people have a higher risk than others of becoming ill, including babies and young children, and elderly people. Heres how to stay cool and hydrated:
Drink plenty of water
One of the best ways to avoid heat-related illness is to drink plenty of water. Its important to keep drinking water even if you dont feel thirsty because this can prevent you from becoming dehydrated. Avoid hot or sugary drinks, including tea and coffee.
Keep your body cool
Keeping as cool as possible can also help you prevent heat-related illness. Make sure you stay out of the sun. Drinking cold drinks and eating smaller, cold meals, such as salads and fruit, can also help you to keep cool. Other things to do include wearing light-coloured and loose-fitting clothes made from natural fibres such as cotton, and taking cool showers or baths.
Keep your house cool
You can help keep your house cool by shutting curtains and blinds during the day. If you dont have air-conditioning, go to a cool place such as a library, shopping centre, cinema or swimming pool. Stay in the coolest room in the house and use the stove as little as possible.
Take care of others
Visit or call elderly friends, neighbours or relatives at least once a day. Check they have water in the fridge and encourage them to drink it. Children also need to be reminded to drink water, and babies, children or animals should never be left alone in a car, even if the air-conditioner is on.
Have a plan
Keep an eye on the weather forecast and know who to call if you need help. If you are unwell, contact your doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. If you think your symptoms are serious, call for an ambulance immediately.
Keep your food safe
Make sure food that needs refrigeration is properly stored, and defrost foods in the fridge, not on the kitchen bench.
Stay safe in the sun
If you need to go out in the sun, its important to protect your own and your childrens skin. Use sunscreen, hats or umbrellas.
Heat-related Illnesses
Heat rash
This is an itchy, painful rash commonly called prickly heat. It is caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather, and particularly affects young children.
Symptoms: A cluster of red pimples or small blisters, particularly on the neck or upper chest, or in creases in the groin, elbow and under the breasts.
What to do: Move to a cooler, less humid environment. Keep the affected areas dry (powder can help), and avoid using ointments or creams because they keep the skin warm and moist.
Dehydration
This occurs when the body doesnt have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions.
Symptoms: Dizziness, tiredness, irritability, thirst, dark yellow urine, loss of appetite, fainting.
What to do: Drink plenty of water or diluted fruit juice and avoid tea, coffee, etc. Move to somewhere cool (preferably air-conditioned), and if possible use a spray bottle filled with water to cool you down. If you start to feel unwell, call your doctor or the nearest hospital emergency department.
Heat cramps
These usually affect people who sweat a lot during strenuous activity, causing the body to lose salt and water. This can lead to heat cramps.
Symptoms: Muscle pains or spasms. Heat cramps can also be an early symptom of heat exhaustion.
What to do: Stop all activity and lie in a cool place with your legs raised slightly. Drink water or diluted fruit juice, have a cool shower or bath, massage your limbs to ease the spasms and apply cool packs. If they continue for more than one hour seek medical attention.
Heat exhaustion
This is the bodys reaction to losing excessive amounts of water and salt contained in sweat.
Symptoms: Heavy sweating, pale skin, fast and weak pulse rate, fast and shallow breathing, muscle weakness or cramps, tiredness and weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, fainting.
What to do: Move to a cool place and lie down. Remove excess clothing, take small sips of cool fluids, and have a cool shower or sponge bath. Put cool packs under the armpits, on the groin or on the back of the neck to reduce body heat. If symptoms last for longer than one hour, get medical help.
Heat stroke
This occurs when the body temperature is not controlled properly and it rises above 40.5 C. It is the most serious heat-related illness and is a life-threatening emergency. Immediate first aid aimed at lowering the body temperature as quickly as possible is very important.
Symptoms: A sudden rise in body temperature, red, hot dry skin (because sweating has stopped), dry, swollen tongue, rapid pulse, rapid shallow breathing, intense thirst, headache, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, confusion, poor coordination or slurred speech, aggressive or bizarre behaviour, loss of consciousness, seizures or coma.
What to do: Call immediately for an ambulance. While you are waiting for help, move the person to a cool, shaded area and keep them as still as possible. Remove excess clothing and give them small sips of water if they are conscious and able to drink. Bring their temperature down any way you can, for example by gently spraying them with cool water from a spray bottle or garden hose, soaking their clothes with cool water, or sponging their body with cool water. Place cool packs under their armpits, on the groin or on the back of their neck to reduce body heat. Do not give aspirin or paracetamol because they wont help and may be harmful. If they are unconscious, lay the person on their side (the recovery position) and check they can breathe properly. Perform CPR if needed.
Source: healthdirect.com
