About 40 cases of heat exhaustion were treated at the Emergency Department of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in May this year.
But from June through September, five to ten cases of heat exhaustion are expected daily for treatment at the Emergency Department.
Senior Consultant at the Emergency Department of HMC, Dr Saad Abdulfattah Al Nuaimi, advises people to take precautions to prevent heat-related illnesses.
Dr Nuaimi says drinks containing caffeine or alcohol should be avoided, and so should be heavy meals. Leaving children and infants inside parked cars can be risky in summer as the temperature inside a vehicle standing in the sun can increase dangerously.
Also, people on a low-salt diet are advised to seek a doctor’s advice to maintain their mineral levels, especially while doing physical exercise.
According to Dr Nuaimi, heat exhaustion is a common illness in summer. It occurs when the body’s temperature control system fails due to exposure to high temperatures (eg above 35؛C) and humidity.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include cramps, fatigue, weakness, headache, dizziness, nausea, and occasionally vomiting, but usually consciousness is retained. Body temperature might be between 38 and 39 degrees Celsius, says Dr Nuaimi.
A person suffering from heat exhaustion should be immediately moved to a cooler area, his clothes should be removed or loosened and a cool shower should be given, if possible. Plenty of cool drinks and some salty snacks, too, should be given.
People having mild heat exhaustion are advised to go to a Primary Health Center, while those with symptoms such as drowsiness or loss of consciousness need to be taken to the Emergency Department. Cases where symptoms persist more than an hour after first aid, or where the person has co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension or obesity, should also be taken to the Emergency Department. The Peninsula
• Increase fluid intake to stay hydrated and replenish the water your body loses due to excessive sweating.
• Avoid drinks containing caffeine or alcohol, as these can cause you to lose more body fluids.
• Eat small snacks throughout the day. Avoid heavy meals and hot food as these can increase body temperature. Salty snacks and fruit juices can help replenish salts and minerals lost through excessive sweating. If you have a chronic illness and are already on a low-salt diet, however, you will need to consult your doctor regarding the amount of salt you can safely consume.
• Stay indoors in a cool place as much as possible. Avoid going out between 10am and 3pm as the temperature is usually at its peak during this time. Schedule outdoor activities such as sports in the early morning or evening hours when it is cooler.
• If you need to go outdoors, it is best to stay or rest often in shady areas. Wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, applied about 30 minutes before exposure to the sun.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• Having someone accompany you is also advised when you have to stay or work in a hot environment. Heat-related illness can sometimes progress so rapidly that you may suddenly become drowsy or unconscious, so it is helpful to have someone around who is aware of the situation.
• During exercise, drink two to four glasses of water or other cool, non-alcoholic fluids per hour. If you exercise outdoors, start slowly to allow your body to acclimatise to the hot weather. If you start having a fast or strong heartbeat and are feeling tired, stop exercising for that day, rest in the shade and take plenty of fluids.
• Never leave infants, children or pets unattended in a parked car, as temperatures can rise rapidly inside the vehicle.
• Check frequently on people at greater risk of suffering from heat-related illness, such as the elderly, young children and babies, and those who are obese or have chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension or other co-morbidities.
