Heat stroke is caused when the body is unable to cope with excessive heat through its natural cooling mechanism and when there is excess acid in your stomach, causing your immune system gets weaker. The reason my mother always made it a point to keep my stomach full with water and food before leaving the house was because it would not only protect me against viruses and bacteria but also save me from dehydration and many other problems that occur due to dehydration, one of which is early aging. Eating jaggery with water before leaving the house is the best option.
Heat stroke can lead to serious illness.
Symptoms among children, infants and babies include sluggishness, a dry tongue, a warm body, lack of tears when crying and dry skin. In extreme cases nose bleed [ nakseer phootna ] and loose motion may occur.
In adults, symptoms include drowsiness, dry and hot skin, little to no sweating and dry tongue. The use of diuretics and kidney problems may add to vulnerability, so one must be cautious.
How to avoid heat stroke
1. In children:
o For infants, mother’s milk is the best.
o Keep the child hydrated all the time.
o Salt and sugar mixes [ ORS ] is preferred over packed fruit juices.
o Never leave a child in a parked car, even if it's just for some time.
o Make your child wear full sleeved cotton clothes and a hat when outside.
2. In adults:
o Cover your head, nose and ears and use an umbrella for your daily work.
o Use full sleeve cotton clothes.
o Keep your stomach full with water and food / ORS.
o Carry water and ORS packet.
In case of heat stroke:
· Raise both legs with some support.
· Keep your head down, below leg level
· Sponge the forehead, armpits and soles of the feet with earthen pot water
· Keep the person in a cool place and make them drink cool water sip by sip
· In villages, they apply wet black soil on the body or put onion juice in the nostrils. I have seen my mom doing this but I am not recommending it. It's just something from our soil that
I am sharing.
Be safe, have a happy summer