The Wilmington morning star., 1946-07-09
The Doctor Says
HEAT MAY CAUSE
SERIOUS ILLNESS
BY WILLIAM A. O'BRIFN Nm

especially when the air is aumid
may result in serious injury IN ~
body Cheat exhaustion. heat on s
stroke, or heat cramps Haa
disturbances are most ant n ~
velop in those i'll from other carss.
and in the very young and the ysr.
old. "'
When one has been overcome ~
the heat once, there is a greato'
chance of his having dIfficuIty
second time.
Heat exhaustion causes mari.
weakness, dizziness, pallor. swast
ing, and lowering of the broas
pressure. In mild form. it Deem.
as a feeling of faiatness n.
patient usually does not lose con
seriousness, and his temperat1r.
is usually normal or below NOV.
NAL, although fever may be prs,,
ent.
The onset of heat ~exiaaustio,
is apparently sudden, but III.
patient usually says that he bad9,,
felt well for several days befors
the attack. The condition is mors
common in men than in womor
and collapse most often follow,
several days of high tempevahra
without relief.
A victim of heat exhaustion
should be allowed to rest in q cooI
place. If his temperature is below
normal, stimulaats and warm
sponge-baths are given.
His thirst should be quencbe3
with water which contains d level
teaspoonful of salt in every QUAR-
Oreangeade and lemonade with eg,
ira quantities of sugar are Salts,
flying to conscious patients.
A physician should be called in
cases which do not respond II
ordinary treatment.
In heat or sun stroke, the heat.
regulating mechanism of the body
fails to function, too much heat !,
retained, and consciousness is lost
as the temperature mounts. Tie
skin is dry and hot, and the face
is flushed.
The breathing is deep and full
the pulse is rapid, the pupils are
dilated. Unless help is obtained,
the patients condition may grow
serious and death may occur.
Rapid cooling of the body is
indicated in heat stroke. The
clothing should be removed and
the body sprinkled with water.
The hospital practice is to soak
a sheet in alcohol, wrap the pa.
tent in it, and allow an electric
fan to blow over him.
Stimulants may be necessary
after the fever is reduced.
Some victims of heat exhaustion
later develop heat-stroke symp.
toms.
Heat cramps develop in those
who work in hot places aud per.
spire too freely. The onset is
sudden, with cramps in the arms,
The condition, which may last
for "a hours, is caused by too.
rapid loss of salt and water.
drinking large quantities Of wa.
ter without salt is the usual
cause.)
The proper treatment Of heat
cramps features rest and salt
water. Sedatives may be neces.
sary to relieve pain. A good pre-.
vertion program includes salt tab.
lets for persons exposed to high
temperatures, or provides such
persons with drinking water to
which a definite quantity of salt
has been added. The latter is )
more exact method of prevention.
Heat disturbances can be fore.
stalled by increasing the loss Of
heat from the body or by de.
creasing the bodys heat produc-
ton (the chief defense of the body
to high temperatures is sweating.
Drinking small quantities Of water
frequently is more apt to prevent
heat disturbance than is drinking
large quantities at one time.
For effective cooling, sweat
should be evaporated slowly.
Moisture which runs off in rivu.
lets is not effective.
Muscular exertion should be
limited during periods of extreme
heat. Work should be accom-
plished during the cooler part o.
the day.
To safeguard yourself from the
heat, avoid direct exposure to The
rays Of the sun and wear a head
protector.