The classic signs of heat stroke are life-threatening. The negative consequences of the nosology lead to vascular collapse, in which the brain cannot process a sufficient amount of oxygen.

Concomitant damage to internal organs leads to death.

First aid for heat stroke is aimed at normalizing heat generation and correcting dehydration. When planning therapeutic actions, it is necessary to differentiate between true fever and hyperthermia. The first state is a compensatory-adaptive organism that activates the metabolic rate to produce antibodies against bacteria, viruses or the accumulation of pyrogens in the blood.

Hyperthermia is not controlled by the central nucleus (hypothalamus). The condition occurs against the background of an increase in antihistamines in the blood.

When attempting to estimate precise boundaries, an individual approach is required. Classic norms regarding the absence of the need to reduce low-grade fever do not apply to all patients. When choosing a tactic, it is necessary to identify secondary pathology that may affect the symptoms of heat stroke.

There is a range of rectal, axillary, and oral temperature responses. Indicators of rectal thermia in pathology range from 35.8 to 37.3 degrees Celsius. The release of pyrogens is influenced by physiological characteristics and patient behavior. The activity of hyperthermic syndrome is influenced by the following provoking factors:

• Physical activity;
• Psycho-emotional background;
• Secondary diseases.

There are the following types of temperature curve:

1. Subfebrile – 36.1-37.8 degrees;
2. Febrile – 38.1-39;
3. High febrile – 39.1-41 degrees;
4. Hyperthermic – more than 41 degrees.

When determining the signs of the disease, it is necessary to take into account all possible manifestations of the pathology.

The main signs of heat stroke by duration

Based on duration, heat stroke is divided into the following categories:

• Ephemeral – up to 2 days;
• Acute – symptoms last up to 15 days;
• Subacute – duration up to 45 days;
• Chronic – over 45 days.

Based on the nature of the temperature reaction, the following signs of fever are distinguished:

• Constant - daily fluctuations are no more than 1 degree at a total temperature of more than 39 degrees. This condition is not typical for manifestations of thermal overheating. Fever is more typical for infectious diseases (pneumonia, typhus and typhoid fever);
• Laxative – daily fluctuations are no more than 1 degree, but the overall temperature curve may be below 38 degrees;
• Intermittent - a combination of periods of normal temperature with peaks of increase;
• Undulating - wave-like flow has periods of decline and increase. A similar picture occurs with lymphogranulomatosis and brucellosis;
• Depleting - daily fluctuations do not exceed 5 degrees. The situation is typical for tuberculosis and syphilis;
• Incorrect - does not have certain patterns. This option develops with heat stroke, but not with sunstroke.

In hot weather, poor ventilation and high humidity, there is a high risk of heat stroke. Due to the high air temperature, the human body quickly overheats, metabolism becomes much faster, and blood vessels swell, while capillary permeability increases significantly. Therefore, during heatstroke, a person’s well-being sharply worsens and a number of alarming symptoms appear. This is where the questions become especially relevant: how long does heat stroke last, and how can this condition be overcome?

Under what conditions is there a risk of heatstroke?

Heatstroke can affect not only those who spend time under the hot sun, but also drivers in their cars, workshop workers, athletes and other people of various occupations. Even sauna and bathhouse workers or an office employee whose air conditioner has broken down are at risk.

For heat stroke, 3 components are sufficient:

1. Heat.
2. High humidity.
3. Excessive heat production.

Muscle activity can also lead to heatstroke.

At first glance, heat stroke does not seem so serious and dangerous to a person’s health and life, but without timely help it can lead to vascular collapse, coma and even death. A person in a state of heat stroke needs outside help and prompt restoration of water-salt balance. And, if you suspect that a person close to you or even someone you don’t know has symptoms of heatstroke, then rush to offer him help.

The danger of heatstroke in children

Heat strokes are especially common in children, since, given their anatomical characteristics, increased heat production is often pathological.

This is due to the following features:

• children's bodies are much smaller;
• heat transfer and heat production are not stable;
• the thermogenesis core is easily irritated;
• compensatory mechanisms are unstable.

Heatstroke is much more severe than in an adult and can cause:

• strong expansion of capillaries;
• blood clots and arterial-venous shunts;
• the occurrence of metabolic pathologies;
• intoxication of the body;
• hypoxia and other disorders.

All this is detrimental to a young body and can lead to the development of kidney, liver and heart disease.

Heat stroke symptoms and first aid

Heat stroke can be determined by the following symptoms:

• dry mouth and thirst;
• weakness and body aches;
• severe headache;
• difficulty breathing and stuffiness;
• painful sensation behind the sternum;
• constant aching pain in the lower extremities and back.

Also, during heat stroke, breathing and the frequency of myocardial contractions accelerate. Hypothermia causes the skin to become pink with signs of irritation. After some time, blood pressure begins to decrease significantly and urination is impaired. Sometimes in children with heatstroke, the body temperature reaches 41 degrees, which has a very bad effect on health and is fraught with serious complications.

Symptoms that require urgent hospitalization:

• the face looks swollen;
• the skin has a cyanotic appearance;
• breathing is difficult and intermittent;
• the pupils are noticeably dilated;
• alarming muscle cramps appeared;
• fever;
• diarrhea and gastroenteritis;
• urination stops.

How long heat stroke lasts depends on many factors, but, first of all, on its degree. Thus, a mild degree of heat stroke is accompanied by redness of the skin and a temperature of up to 39, or even 41 degrees. This condition can last for 2-4 days spent on rest. If brain neurons are damaged as a result of heat stroke, then even long-term treatment with modern medications will not help to fully restore health.

There is a group of people who are especially at risk for heatstroke. It includes those who have an innate sensitivity to high temperature, as well as people who are overweight, suffer excessive stress and are in a state of psycho-emotional overstrain, have cardiovascular and endocrine diseases, neurological diseases, are intoxicated, smoke, wear in thick clothes, etc.

Most often, heat stroke manifests itself in the form of extreme thirst (a person cannot get drunk), weakness, muscle pain and a gradual acceleration of the pulse. If the disease progresses to a more severe form, then convulsions appear, involuntary bowel movements and urination occur. The condition may worsen and the patient will begin to vomit and bleed. Although children are more at risk from the sun than adults, they are able to heal on their own without the need for hospitalization due to their reactivity. Adults, on the contrary, suffer even a small heatstroke much more difficult and even with moderate severity they require immediate mandatory hospitalization.

If the first signs of an impact are detected, it is necessary to provide assistance to the victim and carry out the following procedures:

• drink as much water as possible to stop dehydration;
• loosen the collar and belt;
• cool the skin;
• remove synthetic clothing;

In most cases, it is simply enough to take the person into a cool room or shade, give him water and wet his skin with cool water so that he feels relief. If the symptoms indicate moderate or severe heat stroke, you should do the same, but also lay the victim down, elevate his legs and call an ambulance.

Medical care for heatstroke

Moderate or severe heatstroke requires qualified medical attention.

As a rule, the following drugs are used for treatment:

1. Antipyretics (paracetamol and ibuprofen);
2. Vasoconstrictors (Cavinton, Vinpocetine, Trental);
3. Painkillers (analgin and infulgan).

Antipyretic drugs are used only if the temperature exceeds 39 degrees. Basically, small doses of paracetamol are used; antipyretics in the form of suppositories are prescribed for children. In very severe cases, an infulgan is used intravenously. Antipyretics can shorten the course of the disease and normalize blood supply. If the patient does not recover, hydrocortisone and prednisolone are used in rare cases. These drugs must be administered very carefully, gradually increasing the dose and decreasing it when it is discontinued. Patients are also given cleansing enemas and recommended to take a cool shower every day to relieve overheating.

How to treat heatstroke at home

You can manage the symptoms of heatstroke at home using a number of methods:

• apply cool compresses to the head to relieve headaches and reduce fever;
• apply cold compresses to the great vessels and liver to reduce the temperature and prevent complications;
• rinse the stomach;
• do warm enemas;
• wrap in a cool sheet or diaper.

Wrapping yourself in a cool cloth is one of the simplest and oldest ways to cope with heatstroke. In particular, children are often wrapped in swaddling clothes, as this can quickly lower body temperature, soothe and reduce the discomfort caused by heat stroke. You can also take a cool shower and stand under the water for as long as possible. For mild strokes, cool wraps and compresses are usually enough to provide relief. Several procedures and rest will allow you to quickly forget about heat stroke and return to a normal rhythm of life.

If all these actions do not bring results and there is no noticeable improvement in the condition, then medications are needed.

To avoid complications, it is worth using special preparations and mixtures in time in addition to physical methods. So, it is safest to prepare a lytic mixture (aminazine, dibazole and pipolfen are mixed in novocaine), which quite effectively combats the consequences of heat stroke.

For even greater results, you can use droperidol, and sodium hydroxybutyrate and seduxen will help with muscle cramps. You should not use antipyretics when the temperature has dropped to 37.5 and carry out active drug treatment unless there are compelling reasons for this. Particular care must be taken when handling children. Do not rush to apply therapeutic procedures and “bring down” the temperature. In case of heatstroke, it is important to prevent complications, and temperature is only one of the symptoms and is not the object of treatment.

When does heat stroke start and how long does it last?

It is difficult to determine the duration of heat stroke, since its first symptoms can always be noticed at the very beginning. Often, dry mouth, thirst, weakness and headache already indicate that you have suffered heatstroke. However, these symptoms may not be paid attention to, and only when arrhythmia appears, the temperature rises and other symptoms appear, it becomes clear that the problem is heat stroke. Then it can progress to a severe stage, and even cause damage to the nervous system.

Heat stroke and the fever that accompanies it have stages of development and decline:

1. Prodromal (often occurs almost unnoticeably);
2. Elevation (can be critical or lyrical);
3. Stability;
4. Reverse lysis.

At the beginning, heatstroke seems to warm up. The nervous system is in extremely high tone, but the peripheral arteries are not, at the same time the blood flow is “centralized.” Due to problems with peripheral microcirculation, the so-called “goose bumps” appear, accompanied by chills, trembling and a sharp feeling of cold. By not missing this moment and starting to act already at this stage, you can prevent unpleasant consequences and quickly overcome heat stroke. Symptoms at this stage manifest differently and with varying degrees of severity in different people. Some people clearly feel the changes, while others begin to understand that they received heatstroke only at the stage of rising fever.

The development of the disease is critical when the temperature rises to high levels very quickly (on average, in 40-45 minutes), but also quickly decreases if measures are taken and treatment is carried out. The lyrical course of the disease is much more dangerous and longer lasting. It is largely prolonged and may not be accompanied by a constantly high temperature, but it is accompanied by lethargy, drowsiness, a drop in blood pressure and an accelerated heart rate. It is important to rest throughout this period and not try to endure the disease on your feet, because serious complications are possible.

With rest and proper treatment, you can quickly move into the stability phase, when deterioration is no longer observed, and move into the reverse lysis stage. At this stage, you will feel a noticeable drop in temperature and an improvement in your well-being.

How to Avoid Heat Stroke

As already mentioned, there are people predisposed to heatstroke, but they can also avoid danger if they are careful. It is important to avoid dehydration, small stuffy rooms, not to stay in the sun for long periods of time and not to wear heavy, dense fabrics in hot weather. If you feel unwell, try to go to a place where there is shade and coolness, drink water, and wet your face and head with cold water.

Children must be carefully monitored, always wear a hat, give them water to drink, and not allow them to play in the sun for long periods of time. Even if you or your child is at risk, only care and caution will determine whether there is a real chance of getting heatstroke. It is very easy to avoid treatment and serious consequences; you just need to follow simple rules. If you were unable to protect yourself, then you should take all possible measures to ensure that the heatstroke lasts as little as possible and does not give you serious reasons for concern.

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Dear readers, we all know the desire to enjoy every summer day, especially if it is warm and sunny. We strive to spend more time outdoors. Sometimes, instead, you have to work in stuffy offices. However, despite the big difference between these two pastimes, they are equally likely to lead to unpleasant consequences - overheating. Therefore, you should know what to do in case of overheating, what measures need to be taken to alleviate the condition.

The difficulty is that overheating is quite difficult to recognize. This is, in fact, heatstroke, but people cannot always adequately assess their condition and suspect they do not have overheating, but problems with the blood vessels, heart and gastrointestinal tract.

Overheating in adults - symptoms

Under the hot sun, people's heads overheat first of all. A few hours in the open air, and, unfortunately, sunstroke is quite likely. If a person has been in a stuffy room for a long time and the whole body literally overheats, then he can get heatstroke.

Overheating is quite possible in hot weather in the fresh air, and at elevated temperatures in a bathhouse, fitness centers, transport, etc. - especially in combination with high humidity. In such extreme conditions, the body can no longer cope with the stress and cannot maintain normal thermoregulation. Accordingly, the temperature rises, and very quickly, and because of this, heat generation processes accelerate. That is, a person is literally “burning”, since his heat transfer has decreased.

The first symptoms of overheating:

• weakness;
• darkness in the eyes;
• headache;
• sweating;
• thirst;
• rapid pulse;
• nausea;
• dyspnea.

All of them can arise unexpectedly. However, if you take your condition seriously, you can avoid further overheating and recover. You need to sit in the shade or go out into the fresh air, start drinking a lot (it is best to drink 4 glasses of lightly salted water with 15-minute breaks), take a cold shower.

If this is not done, then even greater weakness and increased heart rate, redness of the face, worsening headache with vomiting, stupor, heaviness in the body, uneven gait, and dilated pupils may occur. The skin becomes hot and dry. Convulsions are possible.

When the temperature rises above 40˚C, a person's breathing becomes frequent and noisy. At this stage, hallucinations and delusions occur. Sometimes those affected by the heat lose consciousness and even fall into a coma. The mortality rate in severe cases reaches 30%.

Sunstroke is a type of heatstroke. The difference is that during sunstroke, only the head overheats, and not the whole body. We have already talked about the causes and symptoms of sunstroke on the blog, read the article on this topic -.

What to do in case of overheating

First of all, an overheated person should be at rest, in a horizontal position, in a cool, well-ventilated room. You can smell ammonia. It is worth applying cold compresses or ice to the head, neck and chest, or wiping the body (especially the groin and armpits) with cool water. However, under no circumstances should you douse yourself with such water!

Take overheating seriously. Even with mild symptoms, see a therapist. In a serious condition, it is even more necessary to go to the emergency room or call an ambulance. Doctors will take measures to further cool the body, administer saline and glucose solution intravenously - in accordance with the rules of professional control of dehydration.

Keep in mind that symptoms of overheating may recur several hours after a person appears to be feeling better. In addition, after suffering from overheating, you can feel jumps in body temperature for several weeks and will remain predisposed to such situations.

You can also read about how to help yourself or provide support to someone who is close to you in the article.

How to avoid overheating

Prevention is simple. If you feel hot, then carefully monitor your condition. Take action, even if something just seems strange. It's better to be safe than to overheat.

To avoid overheating, try to stay in a cool place on hot days and drink a lot. Get into the shower periodically.

It is worth walking in the open air during cool hours, that is, in the morning and evening. And even in this case, wear a hat - preferably white (this color reflects solar radiation as much as possible).

Wear clothes made from natural materials. Use sunscreen. Eat less fatty foods.

Have mint candies on hand - they will not save you from severe overheating, but at the first, mild signs of sunstroke or heatstroke they can help you.

Remember that people with chronic diseases, hormonal disorders, allergies, as well as overweight and increased weather sensitivity are at risk. Those who take diuretics or tricyclic antidepressants or are under the influence of alcohol or drugs also become victims of overheating.

As summer approaches, parents of young children should be especially vigilant. A child cannot always talk about how he is feeling, and this is all the more dangerous because the transition from one stage of overheating to another occurs quickly. The younger the child, the faster and more severe the symptoms appear!

A child, just like an adult, may not be exposed to the sultry rays, but still overheat.

Symptoms of overheating in children

The first alarm bell for parents, indicating that the child has overheated in the sun, is a change in skin color. Your baby's skin may become very pale or reddened, and even blister.

Dehydration is another sign of a physiological malfunction in the body.

Often children, especially very young ones, sweat noticeably in the heat. This is fine. However, when they overheat, on the contrary, they stop sweating.

The child may also have a fever. Headache, nausea and dizziness occur. They are complemented by shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat and blue lips. It gets dark in the eyes. Lethargy and weakness appear, the baby stops frolicking, becomes capricious and tries to lie down.

What to do if your child is overheated in the sun

If you notice the slightest hint of overheating in your child, take him to a cool room and remove his clothes. Give him brackish water - it will restore the water-salt balance in the baby's body.

You should not pour cold water on your child, but you can give him a bath at room temperature and let him sit in it for a few minutes. After this, lay the baby horizontally.

Dry the child with a wet cloth or cotton wool. You can also place a cool compress on your forehead. Ice your armpits, elbows, and knees.

The elevated temperature may last for several days because the child has a malfunction in the process of thermoregulation. Dehydration can also take its toll. Therefore, the child needs to drink more.

How to protect children from heatstroke

• do not go out for a walk when it is too hot (especially from 12 to 16 hours);
• be sure to cover your head;
• give your child more to drink;
• dress according to the weather, do not bundle up;
• refuse dark-colored clothing and synthetics;
• Do not leave your child alone in the car - and do not leave him unattended at all!

Also watch a video on this topic from Dr. Komarovsky, who offers simple and effective solutions.

Let's hope that neither you nor your children will encounter such a nuisance as overheating, and we wish you good health and positive emotions!

And for a bright summer mood we listen Laru Fabian, performing a positive song about the sun.

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16 comments

Content

Many people like to relax in nature on a hot summer day. But this must be done, following certain rules, so as not to get heat or sunstroke. If symptoms of overheating are detected, measures should be taken immediately to prevent negative health consequences.

What to do after mild overheating in the sun

If you ignore the first symptoms of mild heatstroke, the condition may worsen. Actions to be taken immediately:

1. If a person experiences drowsiness, muscle weakness, or dizziness, they should be given several glasses of non-cold water to drink and moved to a ventilated room away from the sun.
2. The victim is provided with bed rest for at least 24 hours.
3. To prevent dehydration, the patient should be given plenty of fluids to drink. Water, herbal tea, fruit drinks, compotes will do.
4. To restore the mineral balance in the body and avoid dehydration, it is recommended to give the patient Regidron solution, natural fruit juice or salted water.
5. The victim can be given Analgin or Citramon for headaches.
6. If the patient's condition worsens, an ambulance should be called.

For fever and chills

If overheating in the sun results in symptoms of moderate heat stroke, then you should follow the algorithm of actions as in the first case. Additionally, for fever and chills, the following is recommended:

1. Extend the duration of bed rest to 3 days.
2. Take painkillers as needed.
3. Stick to a bland diet.
4. Drink at least 2 liters of fluid per day.
5. Stay in a cool room.
6. Avoid sun exposure to the body for 1 week.

If a person is overheated in the sun, it is important to monitor his condition. To do this, body temperature, pulse rate, and blood pressure (BP) levels are regularly measured. If there are significant deviations from the norm, you should go to the hospital.

If there are signs of moderate to severe overheating, you can take anti-inflammatory, painkillers, or antipyretics:

• Nurofen;
• Paracetamol;
• Ibuprofen;
• Indomethacin;



In case of severe overheating

Severe heat strokes often lead to serious complications. A person who is very overheated in the sun experiences nausea, vomiting, and possible loss of consciousness. Here's what to do if you have severe heatstroke:

1. Call an ambulance.
2. Move the victim to a shade or cool place until doctors arrive.
3. Free your stomach, neck, and chest from clothing and accessories.
4. Raise the victim's lower limbs above head level to improve blood circulation.
5. Give the patient something to drink: cold water, compote, herbal tea or berry juice.
6. Apply ice or a cold compress to areas where major arteries pass.
7. Make sure that the victim’s tongue or vomit does not enter the respiratory tract. To do this, the patient is placed on his side.
8. Wipe the victim’s limbs, neck, and face with a damp cloth every 10-15 minutes.



Instructions

Sunstroke is a localized heat stroke. Only the uncovered head receives it, while heatstroke affects the entire body. And not necessarily in the sun. It can be obtained in a hot workshop, and even in a hot room without ventilation, being dressed too warmly.

Sunstroke paralyzes brain function. Due to the strong expansion of blood vessels, the blood, as they say, goes to the head. With mild overheating, it begins to ache, the body becomes weak, and breathing and pulse become somewhat faster.

With moderate sunstroke, the head is severe. It’s no longer easy for a person to start vomiting. Slight weakness in the body is replaced by partial immobility. Coordination of movements is impaired, the gait becomes uncertain, unsteady like a person’s.

The general condition is pre-fainting. Shortness of breath is tormented, the victim does not have enough air. The nose may bleed. Often the temperature rises to 38-39 degrees.

Severe sunstroke is obvious if the face becomes purple and then pale bluish. The temperature jumps to 40-41 degrees. Due to the confusion of consciousness, the person answers your questions incoherently and begins to delirium.

The body may be seized with convulsions, urine and feces are involuntarily released. Dilated pupils are a symptom of a very serious condition and a harbinger of loss of consciousness.

The signs of heat stroke are basically the same. At first - drowsiness, headache, weakness, slight dizziness. With further overheating, a high temperature rises, vomiting begins, and diarrhea is possible.

If overheating continues, hallucinations appear, the face becomes very pale, the skin becomes cold and often bluish. The man is sweating and choking. The heart works intermittently, the pulse is rapid, but can be felt with difficulty.

Soon the victim, as a rule, loses consciousness and a coma sets in. If resuscitation measures are not taken immediately, coma can be fatal, and this happens in 20-30% of cases.

note

It is very easy to get sunstroke and heatstroke by drinking alcoholic beverages in the heat.

Young children should be especially protected from overheating - their risk of sunstroke increases many times over.

At the first sign of overheating, you should immediately find a cool, shady place. And if there is an obvious deterioration in your health, either consult a doctor yourself, or call an ambulance.

Helpful advice

High temperatures and air humidity, thick clothing, rich food, and dehydration of the body make it difficult for sweat to evaporate, contributing to overheating of the body.

When under the sun you should wear a light, light-colored hat, preferably with mesh or holes - it must “breathe”.

On hot days, drink more water, it quenches your thirst best. You can slightly acidify it with lemon or sour berries.

Try not to be under the sun when it is at its most active and dangerous: from 10-11 to 16-17 hours.

Sources:

• Website Moskmed.ru/Overheating in the sun
• Kid-info website/Overheating in the sun
• Video: Heatstroke. Symptoms, causes and first aid

The insidiousness of heat stroke lies in the fact that most vacationers in southern latitudes only care about protecting their heads and exposed areas of the body from exposure to direct rays of the sun, i.e. take measures to prevent only one sunstroke. Heat stroke can occur not only under the influence of the sun, but also due to improperly selected clothing, staying in an unusual climatic zone for the body, or working in hot workshops.

When going on vacation, it is important to remember that from a medical point of view, sunstroke is considered a type of heatstroke. And if the prevention of the first condition consists of competent organization of exposure to the sun, then the prevention and treatment of heat stroke requires comprehensive measures aimed at preventing overheating of the body.

Symptoms of Heat Stroke

Many factors can contribute to the occurrence of a state of overheating of the body: agricultural work in areas completely exposed to the sun; professional activity in high temperature conditions; tourist trips to countries where heat prevails combined with high humidity; clothing that is too tight, not breathable, or out of season; excessive physical activity on sunny days.




It is very important to be able to recognize the symptoms of heat stroke in time, because... disruption of the body's thermoregulation functions can lead not only to serious pathologies, but also to death. Clinical manifestations of heat stroke are expressed in three degrees of severity:



1. In mild forms, headaches, muscle weakness appear, and dizziness may occur, accompanied by nausea. Signs such as dilated pupils, too strong a pulse, and redness of the skin of the face and body may also be present.


2. Moderate severity is characterized by increasing headache and weakness; vomiting may occur; There is a lack of coordination of movements, rapid heartbeat and breathing. Body temperature can exceed 38-39 degrees.


3. A severe form of heat stroke is expressed in a sharp change in skin color: from bright red to bluish-pale; there is rapid breathing with an irregular rhythm; visual and auditory hallucinations may occur; sweating increases; Fainting and convulsions may occur.



Heat stroke in a child

According to medical statistics, the greatest number of cases of heat stroke occurs in children under the age of 6-7 years. This is due to the fact that the child’s thermoregulation system is still in the developmental stage and does not always have time to respond correctly to difficult climatic conditions. In obese children, the release of excess heat may be hampered by excess subcutaneous fat.




Often, the cause of heatstroke in a child is the illiterate actions of parents who choose clothes that are too warm, tight, or made from synthetic materials. A child's prolonged stay in a car, standing motionless in or in a parking lot, can also contribute to the occurrence of heat stroke.




Symptoms of heatstroke in a child include the following:



• the appearance of shortness of breath, rapid pulse, nausea and vomiting, moist skin; nosebleeds may occur;


• if the causes of overheating have not been eliminated, then the following stages of the development of heat stroke are characterized by a strong increase in body temperature, the appearance of vomiting, pre-syncope, disorientation in space, a pronounced reluctance to move and change body position;


• Signs of a severe form of heatstroke include loss of consciousness, convulsions, confusion of speech, and hallucinations. This stage is characterized by the presence of very dry and hot skin, a frequent but weak pulse, and intermittent breathing.



Heat stroke treatment

First of all, it is necessary to take urgent measures to eliminate the causes of overheating of the body and ensure a decrease in body temperature.




To do this, the victim is moved to a shady place or into an air-conditioned room, laid on his back and his clothes are unbuttoned to make breathing easier. If nausea and vomiting are observed, then the head of a person suffering from heat stroke must be turned to one side or the position of his body changed in such a way as to avoid vomit from entering the respiratory tract.




Cool compresses are placed on the forehead, chest, armpits, calves and hands. Compresses should only be cool, but not icy, because... Too sharp a temperature contrast can negatively affect the cardiovascular system.




It is very important to ensure not only a decrease in body temperature, but also restoration of water balance: the victim’s body is wiped with a damp sponge and given plenty of fluids. Cool, clean water, table mineral water without carbon, juicy vegetables and fruits with a high fiber content are best suited for medicinal purposes. If possible, it is recommended to add a small amount of salt to drinking water to quickly restore water and electrolyte balance.




In case of fainting, the victim is placed in such a way that the head is slightly lower than the general position of the body, and the legs are located on a slight elevation - for this it is enough to roll up clothes or place household items at hand. Cool compresses are applied to the area of ​​the temporal cavities, and a cotton swab moistened with ammonia is brought to the nose.




It is important to always remember that a person suffering from heatstroke may require extensive resuscitation measures. Therefore, when providing him with first aid, you should take care of calling a qualified medical team.




If a child's heat stroke is accompanied by respiratory arrest, and the ambulance team is still on the way, the following measures must be taken urgently:



• The child lying on his back is slightly tilted back;


• cover the child’s nose with one hand, and support his chin with the other;


• Taking a deep breath, the air is smoothly exhaled into the child’s mouth, tightly clasping his lips. A sign of a correctly performed exhalation will be the raising of the baby's chest.



These steps must be repeated until the child can breathe on his own. After providing the necessary assistance and eliminating the causes of heat stroke, it is recommended to observe light bed rest for several days, which is necessary for the complete recovery of the child’s body.