We love the sun and like to sunbathe or sit in the sun. It is not without risk and it is good to know how to enjoy the sun and when to beware of the copper bastard. Heatstroke is looming and people may start saying about you, ‘She must be having heatstroke’, because you start to act a bit strange. Not funny, but very dangerous. Overheating is also very dangerous for children. It is advisable to pay extra close attention to the children in very hot weather.
Source: Barni1, Pixabay
Sat in the sun for too long, and then…
- Heatstroke – and a bit weird
- Red on the neck
- Sunstroke
- Heat build-up
- Heat stroke
- High room temperature
- Be careful during heat waves
- Signs of overheating
- Sports and warm weather
- Cooling and children
Heatstroke – and a bit weird
“She must have sunstroke!” That’s what we say about someone who acts a bit strange. The saying does not come out of the blue, but hits the truth when someone has been in the sun for too long. Anyone who has suffered a heat stroke can start to act a bit strange and becomes the embodiment of the saying. Anyone who has allowed it to get to this point would do well to consult a doctor, because the dangers of heatstroke cannot be underestimated.
Red on the neck
We’ve all experienced it, it happens to you without you even realizing it: you go on a bike ride with the sun in your back and a fresh breeze in your ears. Delicious. But then: the sun is beating down on your neck, perhaps without you even realizing it, and when you get home in the evening and take off your clothes, you can see from the color of your skin exactly where your top was and you have a fiery red neck and shoulders. That’s not heatstroke, but it is sunburn. It is bad for your skin and can be very unpleasant if the burned skin develops skin cancer.
Sun hat on
You can prevent this sunburn by not letting the sun touch your skin. You can do this by not cycling in the sun, by wearing clothes that do not expose much skin and by applying sunscreen.
Sunstroke
Heatstroke is a different story. To get heatstroke it doesn’t matter where the sun shines on your skin. In the case of heatstroke, it is the dehydration that poses a danger to the body. A white hat with a flap in the neck helps prevent a sunburned neck, but does not prevent sunstroke. Drinking enough fluids and taking it very slowly helps even more.
To drink water
When it is very hot and we cycle, lie down or walk in the sun, we lose a lot of moisture through perspiration. If you lose more fluid than you drink, the body will have too little fluid left to evaporate. This evaporation is necessary to remove heat. Those who no longer have moisture to evaporate become warmer and warmer inside: the body temperature rises. We speak of heatstroke when it has risen above 40 degrees. There is an increased risk for babies and the elderly.
Heat build-up
If there is too much heat and too little drinking, heat build-up can occur in the body. This means that the body temperature increases and the body loses fluids and salts due to exposure to high ambient temperatures. Heat build-up can also occur during exertion. The temperature then rises when the muscles produce more heat than the skin can release.
Heat stroke
Heat build-up can lead to heat stroke, which is very dangerous. Heat stroke can be fatal and if suspected or discovered, a doctor should be called immediately.
Pale skin
Someone with heat stroke has insufficient blood flow to the skin of the trunk and limbs due to a lack of fluid in the body. You can see it in the skin, which turns pale where you would expect it to turn red from the sun. You also no longer see perspiration. This means that the body’s cooling mechanism has stopped and the internal temperature rises quickly. If the body is warmer than 41 degrees, a life-threatening situation arises, in which cells and tissue are damaged. Then there is heat stroke.
High room temperature
During very warm weather, it can become so warm indoors that the body suffers. Complaints will occur at a room temperature of 26 degrees and higher. Anyone who stays in such a warm room puts extra strain on their body. The heart and lungs have to work extra hard and the brain also has a hard time. You become tired, irritable and your concentration drops alarmingly.
Disturbed sleep
Sleeping is less successful; sleep is disturbed. Anyone who gets into a car under these conditions has an increased risk of a car accident. The risk of a stroke and heart attack also increases and if there is smog in the air, this causes additional health problems.
Be careful during heat waves
So you have to be careful during heat waves, which also occur regularly in the Netherlands. It is important to prevent dehydration and avoid activity. Just take it easy and keep an eye on the children.
Signs of overheating
Overheating can lead to heat exhaustion (which athletes can suffer if they exercise in heat) and heat stroke.
Overheating can be recognized by a number of symptoms. Someone may even lose consciousness: call 112 immediately.
- pale;
- extremely weak feeling;
- loss of concentration;
- exhaustion;
- muscle cramps;
- dizziness;
- pounding headache;
- excessive sweating;
- stop sweating;
- clammy skin;
- labored breathing;
- low bloodpressure;
- increased heart rate;
- crazy behavior.
Getting confused
If the heatstroke is even one degree worse, the situation becomes dangerous. You can’t do much yourself anymore, because you get confused and can start to act strangely: the situation of the saying. Anyone who does not have someone nearby to intervene can lose consciousness and even have epileptic seizures.
Sports and warm weather
In general, it is recommended to avoid intensive activity in very hot weather. Experienced athletes can continue to exercise as long as they take a number of points into account and pay attention to the signals their body gives:
- drink water, about one liter per hour
- don’t exercise during the hottest part of the day
- adjust your clothes, wear breathable clothes
- put on a hat or cap and protect your neck
- sunglasses can help protect your eyes
- Don’t forget the warm-up but do it in a cool place
- wear dry clothes after exercise.
Cooling and children
If the athlete does become overheated, the body can be cooled with ice cubes in the groin, neck and under the armpits. It is not recommended to apply this cooling with ice to children.
Sponge off with lukewarm water
If you think a child has suffered heatstroke, give him or her water to drink and sponge with lukewarm water. So no ice. If the child is drowsy and is not breathing normally, call 911 immediately . If the child is breathing normally and is reasonably normal, call the doctor.
read more
- Heat wave – what to do and what not to do
- Summer, when does it start – June 20 or 21
