Too hot to handle?

Instances of commuters collapsing due to heatstroke in Mumbai’s congested local trains during peak hours are on the rise. It is also common to see people lose consciousness while walking on the road under the harsh summer sun’s glare. It is important to deal with such situations quickly and provide first aid as soon as possible.

According to James L. Glazer, MD, Maine Medical Center, heat exhaustion and heatstroke are part of a continuum of heat-related illness. Both are common and preventable conditions affecting diverse patients.

Research has identified a cascade of inflammatory pathologic events that begins with mild heat exhaustion and, if uninterrupted, can lead eventually to multi-organ failure and death. Heat exhaustion is characterized by non-specific symptoms such as malaise, headache and nausea.

Treatment involves monitoring the patient in a cool, shady environment and ensuring adequate hydration. Untreated heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke, a much more serious illness involving central nervous system dysfunction such as delirium and coma.

Evaporation through perspiration is the body’s most effective method of cooling under most circumstances. As the ambient temperature and humidity increase, thermal transfer becomes less efficient. Thus hot, humid weather confers the highest risk of heat injury. Heart rate, cardiac output, and minute ventilation increase.