How to Survive Heat Exhaustion
More Articles Related to HealthIt is summer in the northern hemisphere and with summer comes higher temperatures. Those who are physically active in hot temperatures run the risk of heat exhaustion.
It is important that the survival expert recognizes the signs of heat exhaustion – and its cousin heat stroke - and what to do should it occur.
Your body has three main methods of cooling itself by losing body heat:
- Through sweating and the process of evaporation.
- Increased blood flow to the surface of your skin where heat is exchanged with the environment.
- Breathing, which brings in air from the environment and exchanges it with the hot air in your lungs.
When you are active on a hot day, you will often sweat profusely in order to cool yourself. However the water and salts contained in your sweat must be adequately replaced or you will begin to loose mental and physical efficiency.
Many people in survival situations are suffering from diarrhea or vomiting (often these illnesses are caused by drinking tainted water and eating spoiled food) which can further deplete your body of water and salts.
Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion
As heat exhaustion progresses, you will become dizzy, feel nauseous, and likely have a headache. Although your body temperature will be normal your skin will feel cool and clammy to the touch and your face pale. Your pulse weakens and becomes faster just as your breathing becomes shallower and faster also.
Treating Heat Exhaustion
In order to treat heat exhaustion,
- Try to get the victim in the coolest area possible, out of the direct rays of the sun.
- Remove his clothing in order to expose as much of his skin as possible to the cooler environment.
- Every ten minutes give him a cup of water into which ¼ teaspoon of salt has been dissolved.
- Should the heat exhaustion victim become unconscious, move him into the recovery position and seek medical help.
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