Since June we have been suffering heat waves that instead of giving us a few days of truce overlap each other, leaving us breathless. These heat waves causes emergency measures to be taken to avoid possible accidents and scares that affect our health.
The heat wave can affect the customs of the whole society, we become consumers of products that perhaps before we had more forgotten, We add many more soft drinks, juices, fruits, vegetables, ice creams and cool little things so as not to suffer unnecessary suffering.
On the other hand, the purchase of fans, air conditioners or the mythical 'penguins' have been exhausted in the country's capital. Regarding food we have introduced many products such as gazpachos and cold creams, horchata, waters, ice cream and ice packs. In addition, sun creams have grown 36% more than last year.
Heat affects human behavior as well as that of animals and insects, heat affects us all, not equally, but in the case of insects it pushes them to leave their houses to dance for ours. For this reason, also the number of insect repellent sales has increased.
Tips to consider
People at risk
- Kids children under 5 years old, the elderly and the disabled
- People who suffer chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, alcoholism, heart disease, or hypertension
- Those who are regularly medicated
- People who perform physical activities very harsh or play sports outdoors in the strongest hours of the sun
What causes a heat wave
Suffering a heat wave translates into several sintomas that our body detects and fights against, among the most common effects we find:
- Cramps that are produced because we run out of mineral salts
- Physical exhaustion: headaches, nausea, vomiting, sudden thirst, and general malaise
- Dehydration
- Heatstroke: It is very important to be aware of what the symptoms of heat stroke are because that way we can identify it at the moment and give it a quick solution. Heatstroke causes nausea, headache, dizziness, hot and reddened skin, increased body temperature, unsteadiness when walking, etc.
How to protect yourself from the heat
Actually, the tips that we detail below are born of common sense and logic, human beings are intelligent enough to know what to do when they are hot, but just in case they had not fallen into something, we leave you a very interesting list .
- Try do not expose yourself in the most intense hours of the sun, that is, from 12 noon to 6 in the afternoon
- Not stop drinking fluids, water and juices above all
- Discard large meals and introduce more salads, vegetables and cold creams. Eat less and more times a day. Put aside hot foods and do not abuse alcoholic beverages.
- Not doing so much sport
- Rest often in the shade
- Dress comfortably in natural fabrics, light and loose clothing. Go for light colors and protect yourself with hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen
- Search ventilated and conditioned spaces
- Take refuge at home in cooler areas
- During the day, close blinds and close windows to prevent outside heat from entering the home and open them at night to ventilate it
- Be careful with raw and cold foods, avoid them being out of the refrigerator for a long time
- Beware of vehicles, do not leave inside children, the elderly or animals with the windows closed
Measures to take into account
When someone has a severe heat stroke, you have to stay calm and treat them right away because otherwise the symptoms may get worse.
The first thing to do is lcall the emergency room, at 112. Afterwards, we would place the affected person in the shade, and we would remove several layers of clothing so you can breathe better. If conscious, head slightly elevated and give as much to drink as possible.
Refresh the neck, face and armpits with cold water. You should never put him in a bathtub even if it is strange, the sudden change in temperature can affect him more. If the patient is unconscious, lay him on his side and with his legs bent and you should never give liquids to an unconscious person because it can cause them to suffocate.
It is very important to act quickly when someone is suffering an attack or heat stroke, because the damage can be very serious, you have to avoid at all costs being unconscious in the sun.
Don't forget to take shelter from the heat, constantly drink fluids and eat fresh and light products, your body will thank you.