How to treat heat stroke:
The aim of treating heat stroke is to cool the
affected person's body to reach normal body temperature, in order to prevent or
reduce the severity of complications associated with heat stroke, especially
since these complications are often related to the brain and some other vital
organs. Initially, the treatment for heat stroke aims to reduce the core body
temperature to below 39 degrees Celsius. Typically, the body temperature of the
affected person is measured using a rectal thermometer, with the need for
continuous readings to be taken consistently. This temperature should be
reached as quickly as possible. Although there is some disagreement among
researchers regarding the time required to lower the temperature to below 39
degrees Celsius, the ideal timeframe to achieve this goal is within 60 minutes
of exposure to heat stroke. It is important to note that an increase in human
body temperature to 40 degrees Celsius or higher can cause serious health
complications, the most notable of which are brain damage and damage to other
vital organs. In general, individuals with heat stroke need to be hospitalized
for examination and to ensure their safety, and to monitor for any
complications that may arise after the first day.
1- First Aid:
Despite the existence of a set of procedures recommended for home application in the event of sunstroke, they are usually not sufficient to fully treat the problem. Therefore, if there is an injured person showing signs or complaining of symptoms of sunstroke, it is essential to call for emergency medical assistance or transport the patient to the hospital as quickly as possible. Any delay in seeking medical help may lead to severe complications, including death. It is crucial for individuals around the affected person to begin first aid procedures to try to cool the patient and reduce their core body temperature to between 38.3 and 38.8 degrees Celsius until the paramedics arrive. If the emergency crew is delayed, one should contact the hospital's emergency department for additional instructions on how to handle the situation. Below are the most important first aid measures followed in cases of sunstroke.
- Transfer the patient to a place with air conditioning if possible, or at least to a cool and shaded area, while ensuring the removal of excess clothing worn by the patient as well as tight clothing.
- Wet and cool the patient's skin with water by wiping with a damp sponge or spraying with a garden hose, then directing air onto the patient's body using a fan.
- Apply ice packs to areas of the body rich in blood vessels close to the skin, most importantly; the armpits, the groin, the neck, and the back; as cooling these areas helps reduce the patient's body temperature.
- Immerse the entire body of the patient in a bath tub containing lukewarm water, and regarding the option of adding ice to the water, this is possible if the heat stroke is due to strenuous or extreme physical exercise, provided the patient is not suffering from any chronic illness, and is not elderly or a small child.
- The patient should drink fluids if the heat stroke is not severe; however, if it is severe and emergency services have been contacted, no type of fluids should be consumed. It is noted that the goal of giving fluids is to try to compensate for the fluid loss that occurred due to the increase in body temperature, in addition to the importance of replenishing the salts lost during sweating. Sports drinks can be used for this purpose, and in any case, it is advisable to consult a doctor before providing fluids or any drink to replenish salts for the patient.
- Avoid using alcoholic or sugary drinks to compensate for fluids; these beverages may negatively affect the body's ability to regulate temperature. It is also advised to avoid very cold drinks that may cause stomach cramps.
- There are cases of heat stroke that occur during intense and vigorous exercise, referred to as exertional heat stroke or heat exhaustion. To handle this condition, individuals around the patient should help them lie down and elevate their legs to ensure blood flow to the heart, while it is necessary to remove tight and unnecessary clothing from the patient. An ice bath can be used to lower the temperature if the patient is young and in good health.
-2- Medical Treatment:
- There are a number of methods that a doctor can use to lower a patient's body temperature, and the following are the most important of these methods:
- Immersion in cold water: Immersing the patient's body in a tub of cold water or water mixed with ice is one of the most effective medical methods for reducing the patient's core temperature. In fact, the importance of quickly lowering the temperature lies in reducing the risk of death and organ damage.
- Evaporative cooling: The evaporative cooling technique involves spraying lukewarm water on the patient's body and then directing warm air over it, which leads to the evaporation of the water and cooling of the skin.
- Cooling blankets and ice packs: The doctor can use the method of wrapping the patient in specialized cooling blankets and placing ice packs on the armpits, back, neck, and groin.
- Administering medications: The doctor may give medications to reduce shivering and trembling if the patient suffering from heat stroke experiences such symptoms, whether due to the treatments used or otherwise, as shivering reduces the effectiveness of treatment and causes an increase in body temperature. In this case, certain medications may be used as deemed appropriate by the doctor, such as benzodiazepines. It is important to avoid using aspirin and acetaminophen if heat stroke is suspected in the patient, as these medications do not help lower the patient's body temperature in this situation.
- Stomach or rectal irrigation with cold water: If the previous methods do not succeed in lowering the patient's temperature, the method of irrigating the body from the inside with cold water can be used, by flushing cold water into the stomach or rectum.
- Cardiopulmonary bypass: In severe cases that do not respond to any of the previous medical methods, the patient may require cardiopulmonary bypass, where the blood flow of the patient is diverted from the heart and lungs to an external blood collection machine, the blood is then cooled and returned to the body again.
-3- After a heat stroke:
The patient's body needs about one to two days for initial recovery from heat stroke, and doctors usually recommend spending these two days in the hospital. A longer recovery time may be anticipated if organ damage is detected. Medical experts expect that complete recovery from heat stroke and its effects on internal organs may take between two months and a full year. It is worth noting that prompt and effective treatment for heat stroke usually helps in recovery without complications, or the complications may be minor, such as some patients becoming more sensitive to hot weather. Unfortunately, in cases of heat strokes accompanied by organ damage, this damage may be permanent, with examples including damage to the brain, lungs, liver, or kidneys.
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