Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-29

sunstroks and Its stFirst Aidv Treat
mont.


msnt
From the New FORK Herald.
The rapid changes Of our American cli-
mate make IL so diffscult to adapt our
selves to their varied impositions that we
are constantly on the lookout for sudden
surprises. Even in summer We may be
cool enugh to shiyer at one time of the
day or pant under torrid temperature at
another. On this account we suffer more
from temporary extremes OF temperature
than IL We had time to accommodate our
selves to such changed conditions. This
Is particularly so when the hotsspells
occur.
In totrid zones. for instance. much more
heat can be tolerated than here. for the
reason that 1t is more continuous and re-
sistance grows WITT time Besides. in more
southern ATTITUDES the air is freer from
moisture and evaporation, and there is cor
respondingly less suffering from hinders,d
Precipitation.
It is the relative humidity almost always
present in our atmosphere that fntensifi'ss
the effects of the heat. Under such coa-
danger from sunstroke. As we cannot
alter the weather, we must submit to 1t
as best We can.
The tolerance of discomfort varies with
different persons. The healthy individual
generally has the least trouble In shifting
his base of requirements. But even he
must be on his guard in these trying days.
In a general way. 1t may be said that no
one Is absolutely safe at any given time
from sudden heat prostration The stroke
Is apt to come suddenly as the finai cal
mination of slowly contributing causes.
There are often, however ominous warn
ings which. ii properly needed. may avert
an attack
The man who is working under the direct
rays of burning sun is always In more or
less diinger. especially so II his head and
back or his neck are unprotected. His
tolerance of heat Is measured by his ability
to pers,pire freely. That is natures method
of cooling the body. Contrariwise when
the skin becomes dry and hot MS safety
valve. so to speak, refuses TO work As
consequence of this inability to eliminate
the accommodating internal heat the internal
organs become eongested. Thus We have
dizziness. Guinness of vision. headache hilr-
ried and painting respiratory movements,
rapid and excited pulse, muscular distiir-
Dances in the shape of commissions. or gen.
eral prostration. Then comes a conatOse
condition, and the ordinary bystantier
recognizes at once typical sunstroke,
Naturally, every one near the victim Is
anxious to help him. When the service
Is done in rational way much good comes
of 1t. The main Indications are to carry
the patient to cool, shady place and also
to cool his body as rapidly as possible. To
save time this can be done before the am
DuidHCt afFiNcs. "A quiSh EeStoreSot " coi-
seriousness by such measures materially les
sens the after effects of accident. Here the
policeman, who should always be skilled
In first aid" methods. can be of special use.
II he is not at hand the work TO be done
is simple enough for any one.
No time should be lost in placing the
victim his back, in loosening his collar
and waistband, removing outside clothing
and allowing him ample breathing space.
In the meanwhile Ice should be procured
and applied to his head and barred chest
and also iced water should be administered
Internally, to whic ha trifie of whisky may
be added. II the patient can be famed at
the same time so much the better. This Is
all that Is required in the emergency The
only other thing to do Is to wait patiently
for the ambulance.