What is heat stroke?
Heat stroke is a serious condition that happens when the body overheats.
It’s time to pay attention as the world heats up.
Normally you can get heat stroke after spending a long time in the sun, sitting in a room with high temperatures or doing sports in a hot environment. I got heat stroke when I was 21. I passed out after being in the sun all day, getting sun burnt, and not eating lunch or dinner. I quickly got better after I ate and drank lots of fluids, but passing out was scary.
Common signs and symptoms of heat stroke:
Fever: Your body temperature may rise to 103°F (39.4°C) or higher.
Change in Mental State: Confusion, irritability, disorientation, or you might even pass out.
Hot, Dry Skin: The skin may feel hot and dry to the touch, as your body may be struggling to cool down through sweating.
Rapid Heartbeat: You may feel your heart rate go faster.
Rapid and Shallow Breathing: Breathing may become rapid and shallow as your body tries to cool itself down.
Headache and Dizziness: You may get a seriously bad headache, feel dizzy, or lightheaded.
Nausea and Vomiting: Yes, we know it is difficult to eat in hot weather… nausea will show up and you might even throw up.
Muscle Cramps or Weakness: The clearest sign of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance will be muscle cramps, weakness, or tiredness.
Seizures: In severe cases, seizures may happen.
What to do if me or someone I know has heat stroke?
SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION!
If you or someone you know shows any of these symptoms of heat stroke, call the doctors or emergency.
In Basel, and in Switzerland, for heat stroke contact your doctor or 144 for medical help and ambulance care and 147 for child emergencies.
WHILE WAITING FOR HELP
Move the person to a cooler place.
Remove extra clothing.
Try to cool them down by applying cool water or wet towels to their body.
Offer cool things to drink with electrolytes if possible (i.e. drinks with sodium, potassium, magnesium and glucose — for example apple juice diluted with water or sports drinks.)
Heat Stroke in Children and the Elderly
Please know that heat stroke is a medical emergency, especially in young children and the elderly. To prevent complications or even death, get help as soon as you can and do as much prevention to keep your loved ones cool, calm, and safe from the heat.
Tips to Prevent Heat Stroke
Be aware of the weather and when a heat wave is in town.
Keep children and the elderly out of the heat at key points in the day (noon till late afternoon.)
Focus on keeping them in cool rooms with good ventilation. If you cannot keep cool at home, look for a community center, restaurant, or other safe space that is cooled.
Keep them well hydrated with water AND electrolyte drinks. Sometimes when we drink only water and sweat a ton, our blood can become unbalanced. Electrolyte drinks can help maintain that balance while keeping the body hydrated. (Some electrolytes include sodium, potassium, and magnesium.)
Excessive sweating can create a low blood pressure situation and put pressure on the heart. So be mindful of how much you and your loved ones are sweating.
Never leave anyone in a parked car, even if the windows are open.
Protect against sunburn. A sunburn interferes with how the skin cools down the body. So lather on sunscreen, wear a hat, sunglasses and clothes that protect your skin.
Wear loose fitting clothing.
The world is getting hotter.
We know that temperatures are heating up. This will be our new normal soon. So empower yourself with good information and learn how to take care of yourself and your loved ones now.
Looking for some hydration recipes??
Check out my hydration book in the shop, on sale for this bloody hot summer.
Hydration is important all year round, but it gets our attention in summer.
Download this healthy-ish summer drink recipe eBook with lots of ice, fruit, and naturally invigorating ingredients to cool off your summer.
They look like cocktails, but bring you only the goods.
Why stay hydrated?
Good mood
Easy elimination ;-)
Regulates body temperature
This PDF download contains 20 fun and creative recipes to cool your summer gatherings.
