The school bell for the summer vacation has rung, the pencils and notebooks are packed away and the children are all set for some summer fun. Children love the summer vacation, because it provides the perfect opportunity to spend lots of time outside, whether it’s swimming in the pool, hiking through the woods, taking long walks, or going for a bike ride. There is something for everyone.
Children, we hope that everyone enjoys this special time of year, but we also want to remind you that there are potential dangers during the summer months, and it’s important to be aware of them. With mercury rising to 45 degree Celsius there are chances that you become a victim of heatstroke. Therefore the more information one has about how to prevent illnesses during summer, there is less likelihood of its occurance.
What is Heatstroke?
The body is normally very effective at cooling itself. You lose some heat through your skin by sweating. However, when you become dehydrated, your body is unable to produce enough sweat to cool itself. Heatstroke occurs when the body isn’t able to cool itself quickly enough and the body temperature rises to dangerous levels. Heatstroke can happen anytime, anywhere. Young children are particularly at risk as their body’s heat up three to five times faster than an adult’s. Heatstroke can even cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.
Symptoms of heatstroke include: dizziness, disorientation, agitation, confusion, sluggishness, seizure, hot dry skin that is flushed but not sweaty, loss of consciousness, rapid heartbeat and hallucinations.
Heatstroke is predictable and preventable. Take these steps to prevent heatstroke during hot weather:
Keep yourself hydrated: Drink water regularly throughout the day, even if you don”t feel thirsty. Once you recognise the feeling of thirst, dehydration is already taking place. It”s best to avoid extremely cold liquids because they can cause stomach cramps. Staying hydrated will help your body sweat and maintain a normal body temperature.Include fresh lime juice, tender coconut, melons, bel sharbat, aam-panna etc in your diet. These will keep your body temperature low. Avoid aerated drinks.
Have light meals: Avoid eating fried foods as they are difficult to digest. Include salads in your meals. Cucumber has 95 per cent water content in it. Having chach, curd etc. not only keep you hyderated but also help in digestion.
Have bath more than once: Take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath whenever you feel the need. This not only cleanses your skin but makes you feel fresh.
Wear lightweight clothing: Wearing excess clothing or clothing that fits tightly won”t allow your body to cool properly.
Remain indoors: If possible, remain indoors during the hottest parts of the day. If you can”t avoid strenuous activity in hot weather, drink fluids and rest frequently in a cool spot. Try to schedule exercise or physical labour for cooler parts of the day, such as early morning or evening. Alternately, take it easy on hot days.
Protect against sunburn: Sunburn affects your body”s ability to cool itself, so protect yourself outdoors with a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Film (SPF). Use umbrella if you are stepping out.
Never stay in a parked car: This is a common cause of heat-related deaths in children. When parked in the sun, the temperature in your car can rise 20 degrees F (more than 6.7 C) in 10 minutes.It”s not safe to sit in a parked car in warm or hot weather, even if the windows are open or the car is in shade.
Take it easy during the hottest parts of the day: Get acclimated. Limit time spent on working or exercising in heat until you”re conditioned to it. People who are not used to hot weather are especially susceptible to heat-related illness. It can take several weeks for your body to adjust to hot weather.
Let the body acclimatise to the heat: Sudden change in the temperature can cause illness. Switch off the Air Conditioner at least 15 minutes before stepping out.
Check with your doctor: Be aware that some medications can make you more vulnerable to heat exhaustion. For example, painkillers can mask some of the symptoms of heat exhaustion, and laxatives can increase the risk of dehydration. If you have any questions about prescription or over-the-counter medications, check with your doctor or pharmacist
Plan early morning play: You should plan outdoor activities to avoid peak-sun hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) as much as possible. Sound impossible for active kids? Make sure you all can get a break from the sun, when needed.
Beware of shade: Normally people have got an impression that sitting in the shade is a simple sun compromise. Shade does provide relief from the heat, but it offers a false sense of security about Ultra Violet Rays (UVR) protection. You can still sunburn in shade, because light is scattered and reflected.
Check the weather: Look for the Ultra Violet (UV) index (on a site like Weather.com) when planning outdoor activities; it predicts the intensity of UV light based on the sun”s position, cloud movements, altitude, ozone data and other factors. Higher UV index numbers predict more intense UV light.
Always carry a water bottle: It is advised to carry a water bottle when stepping out. When you have a water bottle you tend to sip from it as it is handy.During hot weather you will need to drink more liquid than your thirst indicates. Increase your fluid intake, regardless of your activity level. During heavy exercise in a hot environment, drink two to four glasses of cool fluids each hour.
These are some steps that you can take to avoid heat. Prevention is better than cure if you want to enjoy your vacation to the fullest.
What to do in case of heatstroke
Fan over the patient while wetting his skin with water from a sponge. Apply ice packs to the patient”s armpits, groin, neck, and back. Because these areas are rich with blood vessels close to the skin, cooling them may reduce body temperature.Help the patient in having a shower. If the problem persists call the doctor. -Aniket Raja
Marvellous Deena
As Deena entered into his classroom , all his classmates stood up to appreciate his excellent venture that was something special. With his gentle and cheerful gesture , he expressed his gratitude. Actually the reason behind the joyfulness of classmates was not only first class first position that Deena had secured in college exams but something else. Meanwhile, class teacher came into the class. All the students wished him good morning and took their respective seats.
News of Deen’s special work had been viral in whole of the college. No doubt , the class teacher was also aware of that. When he started his lecture, he did not forget to talk about that special news.
He said , “ Dear students, as you all are aware that Deena himself established an association of those students who couldn’t pass their half yearly examination and also got zero marks in a few subjects. He named that association ‘ Zero Association’. He motivated all the failed students as well as helped them in understanding difficult lessons to pass their final exams. Certainly, credit goes to Deena. Let’s congratulate him for his excellent job.” Once again , all the students stood up at their place , and acclaimed Deen’s goodhearted work.With all humility, Deena also stood up and accepted their greetings.
Beyond doubt, it was his philanthropic work that won the love and respect of his classmates as well as of his teachers. Later on Deena became one of the great leaders of our country and was known as Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. -Dr Ved Mitra Shukla
