Beat the heat: stay cool and hydrated to prevent heat stroke

Take extra precautions to stay hydrated during this summer’s hot weather. Dehydration and heatstroke can result from extreme heat and a lack of fluids. This could be deadly! When your body loses more fluids than you take in, you become dehydrated. When you are dehydrated, your body is unable to function normally. Dehydration and heatstroke are especially dangerous for children under the age of five, the elderly, and people working outside. If you stay thirsty, even though you are drinking water, drink the following solution to rehydrate: • Mix in a clean bottle: one litre of water, eight teaspoons of sugar and ½ a teaspoon of salt. To prevent dehydration in general: • Stay out of the sun as far as possible. • Wear a large hat to protect your head from the sun and use an umbrella for shade. • Use a small, wet towel or cloth under the hat, or on the shoulders, to help keep cool. • Stay hydrated and drink as much water as needed. In current temperatures, staying hydrated is most important. • Always carry water with you. • Should you use any chronic medication, drink ample clean water. Remember, dehydration places extra stress on the kidneys. • Use a rehydration solution if you stay thirsty, even though you are drinking water. • The solution is safe for all ages to drink. • Ensure that the elderly and infirm have access to water, and especially also people who work or exercise outdoors. Parents, or caregivers, should pay extra attention to young children to make sure they are hydrated. Babies who are breastfed, should be fed more frequently during hot temperatures. Keep children indoors, or in the shade, dress them in light clothing and wipe them down with a damp cloth to help them stay cool. Remember to keep children indoors between 11:00 and 16:00 and to apply sunscreen when they go outdoors. If children, younger than five, have more than two watery stools, vomits over 24 hours, or are lethargic, seek medical attention immediately. Also seek immediate medical care if your baby is unable to breastfeed or has sunken eyes and a sunken head (fontanelle). If the clinic is closed, or you are not by the means to transport your sick child to another health facility, please call an ambulance urgently, by calling 10177 from a landline, or 112 from a cell phone. Signs of heat exhaustion include: • Nausea or vomiting. • Paleness. • Tiredness and weakness. • Headache. • Muscle cramps. • Dizziness. If the symptoms are severe, or the victim has a heart condition, or suffers from high blood pressure, seek urgent medical help. Give the person some of the oral rehydration solution described above. Do not add too much salt - the mixture should taste like tears. Sports drinks or commercial oral rehydration solutions are also effective. If the symptoms worsen, or last longer than an hour, seek urgent medical attention.