The summer months are coming, and with them will come more incidents of heatstroke, dehydration and various other problems caused by the heat.
Your body is around 70% water, and it is vital that you retain and maintain this balance by drinking water regularly to replace that which has been lost due to perspiration, urination etc. A lack of sufficient water in the body is known as dehydration, and is a condition that too many people do not realise is actually very dangerous as it can lead to a whole slew of health problems including headaches, fatigue, kidney problems, heart problems, constipation, and more.
How Can I Avoid Heatstroke?
Heatstroke is a life-threatening condition that occurs when your body’s core body temperature rises too much due to not drinking water regularly enough.
Those most at risk for heatstroke are:
- Individuals like traffic police, construction workers, lifeguards, etc. who of necessity work outdoors in the heat of the sun;
- Children, who spend most of their time playing outdoors, can easily get heatstroke if they do not drink enough water throughout the day;
- Athletes, long-distance runners and cyclists can get dehydrated easily they do not drink water regularly before, during and after their exercise, and this can turn into heatstroke;
- Heatstroke can also occur as a result of being at a concert or nightclub where you are physically active and do not replace water lost due to the exertion.
Symptoms of Heatstroke
It is important to know the symptoms of heatstroke so that you can do something about it if you or anyone you know exhibits any of them:
- Cramps in your arms, legs or back
- Dizziness, fatigue, headaches, giddiness,
- Fainting or loss of consciousness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Not sweating when you should be
- Sudden tiredness, irritability and/or confusion
If you or anyone you know exhibits any of the above symptoms, one should immediately stop working or exercising, get out of the sun and into the shade or somewhere cool, and sip not gulp water, preferably chilled water.
Avoiding Heatstroke
Of course it is better to avoid heatstroke than to treat it, and this is quite easily achieved by merely taking some simple precautions:
- Drink sufficient water before exercising to ensure that you start out hydrated;
- Continue drinking water throughout the exercise if it last for more than an hour, and drink more water directly after;
- A good rule of thumb is to drink one litre of water before and around 500ml of water every hour during sustained physical exercise (which includes working in the hot sun);
- Place a damp cloth or bandana on the back of your neck if you are feeling extremely hot;
- If you are drinking water regularly yet still feeling very thirsty, mix 8 teaspoons of sugar and half a teaspoon of salt in a litre of water and sip it regularly;
- Take regular breaks from physical work to rest, and get out of the hot sun
It is also possible to get heatstroke in an office if you are working hard, it is very hot in the office and you are not drinking water regularly.
Investing in a water cooler that can supply chilled, refreshing water virtually 24/7 on building sites, at schools, at home and in offices is also a good way to avoid getting heatstroke. Get bottled water coolers today at Living-water! Models includes star, executive and tabletop.
