Our suking ice cream vendor doesn’t look well when he handed me the ice cream I bought from him the other day. He appeared slightly pale, perspiring and exhausted. I told him to take a rest in the shade of the mango tree in front of our house. He told me that he almost fainted the other day, but tried hard not to fall from where he was standing because he was afraid there wouldn’t be anyone to help him. Poor manong. He stopped for a while but continue pushing his cart to offer ice cream to the potential clients nearby.
So, what are the warning signs of heat stroke? Even when we are in the confines of our own homes, we are not spared from heat stroke.
Heat stroke usually starts with signs of heat exhaustion:
- Warm, flushed skin
- Faintness
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Very high fever of 41 degrees centigrade
- Headache
- Rapid heartbeat
- Convulsion
- Unconsciousness
What should we do to prevent heat stroke:
- Limit the amount of time you spend outdoors.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Avoid tea, coffee, soda, and alcohol
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat and long-sleeved clothing when outdoors.
- Schedule heavy-duty activities for the beginning or end of the day, when it’s cooler.
Source: doh.gov.ph