With temperatures in the red, transports due to heat exhaustion and heatstroke are now the order of the day for EMS.
With temperatures in the “red” and even extended periods, daily transports due to heat exhaustion and heat stroke are now commonplace for EMS.
The same situation prevails in Cyprus, where two National Guardsmen of the LOK were hospitalized in critical condition with symptoms of heatstroke.
The first, a 17-year-old boy, was transferred to a hospital in Nicosia, Cyprus, a week ago and then sent to a special transplant center in Paris for more specialized treatment.
After the lunch break, the national guard, who felt unwell, was transferred from his unit to the general hospital of Nicosia and further evaluation of his condition was deemed necessary.
The second, an 18-year-old National Guardsman, was taken to the hospital yesterday, Thursday, July 18, 2024, where doctors determined he had symptoms of heatstroke.
The 18-year-old man was admitted to the intensive care unit, and his health condition is considered serious.
At the same time, several doctors in Cyprus express their concern in three directions: firstly, if the necessary protective measures are taken during training in very high temperature conditions, and secondly, if the conditions (building, etc.) in the special Unit are possible. the adverse effect on the health of the soldiers when the hot conditions prevail and thirdly, whether the health examinations passed by the candidates before being selected for the Commando Units are complete and based on the relevant international standards.
What is heat stroke
Heatstroke – excessive heating of the body (hyperthermia), that is, an increase in temperature that can reach high and dangerous levels.
Heat stroke is a serious and urgent clinical condition that usually occurs in hot weather and mainly affects elderly and debilitated people.
Symptoms of heatstroke are similar to those of a heart attack or stroke.
Treatment for heatstroke requires rapid cooling of the body to bring down the high temperature. The patient should be taken to a cool place and given plenty of water or cooled with a cloth dipped in cold water.
Who is most at risk?
Those who are susceptible to heat stroke, in addition to the elderly, are patients who take vasodilator and diuretic drugs, that is, people who suffer from hypertension (pressure) or heart failure or diabetes.
Prevention
Heatstroke is relatively easy to prevent. Cramps are more common in people who are unaccustomed to extreme heat or who become dehydrated easily due to excessive sweating or insufficient fluid intake (or a combination of both).
Instead, we avoid heatstroke by drinking enough fluids, eating lots of fruit, and also eating more salt with food.
Replacing water, salts and potassium in our body will help prevent any complications due to heat. For every liter of water we lose, our body temperature rises, our heart rate increases by 8 beats per minute, and the efficiency of our heart decreases.
Alcohol use can increase the risk, while dehydration from vomiting or diarrhea can also dramatically increase the chance of heat stroke during periods of extreme heat.
The best thing to do to make sure you don’t get heat stroke is prevention. Apart from ideally avoiding direct sun exposure (especially between 10am and 4pm), whenever you feel overheated you should cool down by drinking something cold and refreshing.
EKAB: Guidelines for heat stroke
If you feel or come here after prolonged exposure to a hot (and humid) environment
- Headache,
- high fever (over 41-42 degrees),
- tachycardia,
- be anxious,
- dizziness,
- motion sickness,
- vomiting
- loss of consciousness,
- skin dry, hot and very red
they can be symptoms of heatstroke (a large increase in the temperature of the human body because it is prevented from being eliminated due to the high and humid temperature of the environment).
Help – Instructions
If heatstroke is experienced, the following should be done until a doctor arrives or the patient is taken to a hospital:
- The person with heat stroke should be moved without delay to a shaded, cool and, if possible, ventilated area.
- Lying on his back and removing everything that prevents him from venting out of curiosity or interest.
- Provide air using any convenient means (fans, cartons, etc.).
- Remove heavy clothing, apply cold pads and soak your entire body with cold water.
- If the heatstroke victim is able to drink fluids at that time, we use this opportunity.