Severe heat: Be careful not to get sunstroke, heat exhaustion or heat stroke

The weather in Ho Chi Minh City has been extremely hot in recent days. The heat wave not only brings discomfort but also directly affects people's health.

In recent days, Ho Chi Minh City has experienced a severe heat wave with a very high UV index - Photo: DUYEN PHAN, AN VI

How to avoid getting sick? Tips to avoid UV rays.

Sick from going out at noon

Although it is not yet summer, the weather in Ho Chi Minh City and the Southern region has been quite unpleasant in recent days. During the day, the intense sunlight, lasting from early morning until late afternoon, makes all outdoor activities a big challenge.

The closer to urban areas, the more severe the heat becomes due to the absorption of heat from high-rise buildings, roads and vehicles. In recent days, the highest temperature recorded during the day reached 36.5°C, even in some outdoor areas, the temperature almost reached 40°C.

From 10am to 3pm is when UV rays reach their highest intensity (level 8-10), causing a burning sensation when skin is exposed directly to sunlight.

In addition to the heat emitted from vehicles and buildings, the stuffy air makes people feel even more uncomfortable. Along the city center, many cafes and food stores have to use misting systems to reduce the heat.

Mr. Thanh Tu, an online book seller in Binh Thanh District, said that due to the nature of his work, he will ship the goods whenever the customer is convenient to receive them (delivery radius in inner city districts). For two consecutive days, a customer asked him to deliver books at noon, he had to travel a distance of more than 15km back and forth from Binh Thanh to Tan Binh, and one day he went to Thu Duc City under the scorching sun of Ho Chi Minh City, which made him sick.

"Even though I had a hat and shirt on like everyone else, the heat just rushed straight into my skin. Especially when I stopped at a red light, the reflection of the road surface burned my legs. Out of habit, I turned on the air conditioner to cool down after coming home from the hot sun, but unexpectedly I caught a cold and had a fever that lasted for a whole week," Mr. Tu shared.

Not only causing colds, skin diseases are also the consequence of heat waves that anyone can encounter.

Ms. Ngoc Lan (living in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City) said that her skin was sensitive because of the long acne treatment before Tet. In the past few days, when taking her children to school at noon, although the school was only a few kilometers away from home, when she returned home, she felt her skin burning and her face red. She had to go to a dermatology clinic to have her skin re-examined after a week of sun exposure.

Avoid sun exposure during peak hours.

Dr. Vu Thi Phuong Thao, head of the clinical department 1 of the Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital, said that according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the ultraviolet (UV) index is divided into different levels, and each level brings different risks to health.

Levels 8 - 10 (very high) pose a risk of serious skin damage and rapid skin burns. Levels 11+ (dangerous) cause rapid skin and eye damage and increase the risk of skin cancer .

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC), common health problems during the hot season include heatstroke, heat exhaustion, and stroke.

The main causes of these conditions are prolonged exposure to hot conditions without rest, inadequate hydration, or sudden changes in temperature from cool to hot environments. People who are susceptible to heat stress include the elderly, children, pregnant women, outdoor workers, and people with chronic diseases.

To prevent heat-related illnesses, HCDC recommends that people pay attention to getting adequate rest and having a scientific diet. If you are in an air-conditioned environment, give your body time to adapt to the outside temperature before going outside.

In addition, eating also plays a very important role, people should increase the consumption of green vegetables, fruits and use soups in their daily meals. At the same time, it is necessary to drink enough water, at least 1.5 - 2 liters of water per day. Avoid drinking too much coffee or alcoholic beverages. Exercise and strengthen the immune system, exercise regularly to keep the body healthy.

Avoid sudden changes in temperature

The Ministry of Health recommends limiting exposure to the sun during peak hours. In particular, people who are often in air-conditioned rooms with low temperatures should avoid sudden exposure to the sun.

Before going out, give your body time to gradually adapt to the outside environment by increasing the air conditioning temperature in the room or resting in the shade.

First aid for sunstroke, heatstroke

According to the Ministry of Health , sunstroke and heatstroke often begin with symptoms such as dizziness, muscle cramps, heat exhaustion and loss of ability to exercise.

If not treated promptly, the condition can become severe and lead to heat stroke, with body temperature exceeding 40°C, along with symptoms such as headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, mental confusion, and disorientation.

For mild cases, let the victim lie down with the head low in the shade, remove some clothing and cool the body. The victim needs to be rehydrated and have electrolytes replaced.

For moderate cases, stop all activity and let the person rest. Gently massage the affected muscles and continue to replace electrolytes.

In severe cases, take the victim to a cool place, remove clothes, call for medical help. Immediately apply measures to cool the body such as applying a cool compress or if over 40°C, remove clothes, soak the body in cold water below 20°C for 20 minutes. If the condition does not improve, quickly transfer the victim to the nearest medical facility.

The Ministry of Health recommends limiting exposure to the sun during peak hours. In particular, people who are often in air-conditioned rooms with low temperatures should avoid sudden exposure to the sun. Before going out, give your body time to gradually adapt to the outside environment by increasing the air-conditioning temperature in the room or resting in the shade.

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CAM NUONG

Source: https://archive.vietnam.vn/nang-nong-gay-gat-chu-y-dung-de-say-nang-say-nong-hay-dot-quy/