Cool down with homemade ice cream!
This banana and pistachio 'nice' cream is vegan, easy to make and perfect for warm summer days.
Get the recipeIn my last blog post I looked at heat exhaustion, and today I'm talking about the more serious condition that can develop from heat exhaustion: heat stroke. This is a life threatening condition that requires immediate medical assistance. I explain what signs and symptoms you should look out for, and what to do if you recognise them.
Heat stroke occurs when a person is exposed to high temperatures for too long, and often results from heat exhaustion or dehydration. The body simply becomes overworked and its cooling system fails, meaning that body temperature begins to rise dangerously high. This increase in temperature puts pressure on the brain, as well as other organs like the heart and lungs and can severely damage them or cause them to shut down altogether.
The people most at risk are those doing strenuous activity in hot climates – especially if they aren’t used to these kinds of temperatures. This includes hikers, athletes and cyclists. The elderly and the very young are also particularly at risk as their bodies are not as strong. However, anyone can fall victim to heat stroke under certain conditions.
Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition that needs immediate medical assistance.
Detecting heat stroke early on is vital to minimise the damage caused to the brain and other organs. Many of the signs and symptoms are similar to that of heat exhaustion, though they will be noticeably more severe with heat stroke. The signs of heat stroke are:
If you recognise these symptoms, it is vital that the affected person gets medical help as soon as possible. Call an ambulance immediately or take them straight to the hospital.
While you’re waiting for medical assistance, there are a number of things you can do to help:
If you need extra help or advice, call NHS24 as they will be able to talk you through the correct procedures, particularly if the affected person has lost consciousness.
Heat stroke can develop very suddenly so it can sometimes be difficult to put preventative measures into place. However, in many cases there are a number of warning signs that develop prior to heat stroke, such as heat exhaustion or dehydration. Treating these conditions is much easier than treating heat stroke.
If you notice the signs of heat exhaustion or dehydration, such as dark urine, a headache, feeling generally unwell, feeling dizzy or feeling nauseous, you should quickly move into a cooler area, take measures to cool yourself down such as a cool bath, and rehydrate yourself with cold water. Replacing electrolytes with coconut water, birch water or a sports drink is also important. If you still feel unwell after half an hour, seek medical assistance.
To avoid these conditions developing in the first place you should:
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This banana and pistachio 'nice' cream is vegan, easy to make and perfect for warm summer days.
Get the recipeTry Balance Mineral drink to restore minerals, reduce fatigue and rehydrate after a day in the sun.
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