SIN-EN
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Climate change caused by human activities has already led to the fact that heat waves around the world have become more frequent and intense.
Scientists studying the influence of global warming on the weather say that every wave of heat today carries imprints of the climatic crisis.
Climate change, caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuel by people, worsens global extreme weather conditions as a whole, but most of these changes are associated with heat.
In the USA, more Americans die from the heat than from any other natural disaster associated with the weather, and the situation will only deteriorate as the world heats up from the burning of fossil fuel.
This is what happens to your body in severe heat, what needs to beware and how to stay safe.
What happens to your body
Usually your body is used to a certain temperature range, usually from 97 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit. According to Dr. Judith Linden, executive deputy head of the emergency medical care department of the Boston Medical Center and professor, when your brain feels a change – lower or higher – he tries to help your body cool or warm up. Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty of Medicine of Boston University.
“There are many different ways that (the brain) is trying to cool the body. One of the ways, the most common we think about is to sweat, ”said Linden. “The pores open, the body sweats, sweat evaporates, which cools the body.”
The second method of cooling the body is the expansion of blood vessels and an increase in the frequency of heart contractions, which helps to deliver heat and blood to the surface of the body and release excessive heat.
When you are exposed to high temperatures, your body becomes more difficult to have to cool. And if your environment is hot And wet, sweat does not evaporate so easily that it increases the temperature of your body even higher, according to data Clinic Mayo.
“The higher the humidity, the lower the temperatures are needed for severe heat,” Linden said.
High body temperature can lead to damage to the brain and other vital organs. CDC speaks. They can also lead to a number of diseases associated with heat.
Mild diseases associated with heat, including thermal seizures, are the most common, said Linden. Thermal convulsions can develop in people who sweat a lot, including during physical exercises. According to scientists, excessive sweating consumes all the salt and moisture of the body and can lead to muscle pain or spasms, usually in the abdomen, arms or legs. CDC.
A prickly heat It can also develop. According to CDC, this is skin irritation caused by excessive sweating in hot and wet weather, and it is most often found in young children. Usually it is an accumulation of red acne or blisters, which are usually located in places such as the neck, upper chest or folds on the elbows.
Когда ваше тело начинает превосходить свои возможности по охлаждению, у вас может развиться так называемое Thermal exhaustion.
“In this case, you will see excessive sweating, because your body will really try to withstand this additional heat. You will feel dizziness, you may have dizziness, people often have nausea, headaches, their skin often looks pale and sticky, and the pulse is often increased, ”Linden said.
“This is the last attempt by the body to cool before it really reaches the point of non -return.”
Thermal blow This is the most serious disease associated with heat, and, if it is not treated, it can lead to death.
“It is here that the temperature of your body exceeds 104-105 degrees or so, here, and here your mechanisms begin to fail,” Linden said.
According to CDC, the warning signs may include extremely high body temperature, redness and dry skin, a rapid pulse, headache, dizziness, nausea or loss of consciousness.
According to Linden, the distinctive features of the thermal blow are confusion and excitement.
“Therefore, when someone is in the heat, and he is confused and exciting, this is a thermal blow until the opposite is proven, and for this you need to call 911 or immediately turn for help and pull a person out of the heat.”
Elderly people, people with chronic diseases, as well as children undergo higher risk of serious diseases associated with heat.
Older people and people with chronic diseases can be less likely to feel and respond to temperature changes and can take medications that worsen thermal effects. CDC said.
“And very young (people), because they are less likely to recognize diseases associated with heat, and they have less chance of getting out of the heat if they begin to feel overheated,” Linden said.
Sportsmen and pets are also at a higher risk, she added.
“In such weather, never, never for a minute you can not leave a child or a pet in a car,” Linden added.
When there is severe heat in your area, you can do several things to protect yourself and others.
First, follow the symptoms of thermal exhaustion or other diseases. “If someone begins to feel dizziness, nausea or headache, it's time to act immediately,” Linden said. “This means that it is necessary to bring them out of the heat to the cool environment.”
Pouring with water of a person experiencing symptoms, and the introduction of fluid can help him cool. If someone begins to lose consciousness or he has nausea or vomiting, call 911.
“If you see someone in any confusion, this is an immediate red flag,” Linden added.
According to Linden, when it’s hot outside, try to avoid outdoor activities, especially from 11:00 to 15:00. If you need to go outside, put on light clothes, cover your head and drink a lot of liquids.
Do not wait until you want to drink water – this may be a sign of dehydration. Linden recommends drinking at least one glass of water (or more) per hour.
“If you feel dizziness, dizziness, sweating, a rapid pulse, immediately leave the heat,” Linden said.
Try to find air conditioning or places in your area where you can stay in coolness. Ready.gov. Even a few hours spent in a shopping center or a public library can help.
When you are at home, fans can help, but do not rely on them as the only way to cool – although it can be more comfortable, they will not help prevent diseases associated with heat.
“If you are in a very hot room and you have a fan, will this help? No. I think if you have a fan and you can spray yourself with a fog … Then fans can be useful, ”Linden said. “Fans are not safe from the fool.”
Finally, make sure that you check your neighbors, parents and friends – especially the elderly who can live alone or are isolated, ”Linden said.
