With the daytime temperatures pushing into the 30s over the past week, it is important to protect yourself against heat exhaustion.
Hendrik Buda, spokesman of the Far East Rand Hospital, says the hospital has not admitted any patients for heat exhaustion yet.
He says symptoms of heat exhaustion are excessive sweat, thirst and a person may faint.
To prevent heat exhaustion, you have to drink a lot of fluids, keep away from direct light, wear light clothing, and wear something to protect yourself from the sunlight such as an umbrella or hat.
He says children and the aged are more vulnerable to heats, and parents should take care to see that children are not exposed to too much sun when they play outside.
He warned that sunblock cannot help against heat exhaustion, as it protects someone against UV light only.
The website www.wikihow.com explains heat exhaustion or sunstroke, saying it occurs when people exercise heavily or work in a hot, humid place where bodily fluids are lost through heavy sweating.
The heat pushes the human body beyond its limits and the body has to work extra hard to maintain its normal temperature.
The blood flow to the skin increases, causing blood flow to decrease to the vital organs.
This results in a mild form of shock.
If this goes untreated, the victim’s condition will worsen, the body temperature will continue to rise, and heat stroke might occur.
Heatstroke is when someone’s temperature control system (which produces sweat to cool the body) stops working and the body temperature can rise high enough to cause brain damage and death.
A victim in this situation needs to be cooled quickly.
- Symptoms include:
- Red, flushed skin that may become pale.
- A body temperature of 41ºC or higher.
- Seizures.
- Extreme headache.
- Rapid breathing.
- Rapid pulse.
- Sweating ceases.
- Confusion.
- Unconsciousness.
Pets
The website Medicine net.com reminds pet owners that their pets also suffer when the temperature rises.
They advise that you give your dogs, rabbits, and cats (if you can) a “cool” bath or shower to help keep their body temperature down.
A cool towel on a tile floor to lie on, a cool towel or washcloth over the skin next to a fan will also help cool the animal.
Make sure they have plenty of cool water to drink as well.
Call your vet if you think your pet has heat stroke and show these symptoms:
- Rapid panting.
- Wide eyes.
- Lots of drooling.
- Twitching muscles
- Vomiting.
- A dazed look.
Weekend weather
The South African weather bureau predicts on its website www.weathersa.co.za that the temperatures in the Ekurhuleni area will stay at or close to 30 degrees Celsius until at least Monday.
Rain, which cools the sun-drenched earth is also a possibility, as there is a 30% chance for rain on Friday and Saturday and a 60% chance for rain on Sunday and Monday.
