Sunstroke or heat stroke?
How to react correctly
Created: 07/13/2022, 16:35
By: Franziska Vystrcil
Anyone who has symptoms of overheating should get out of the sun immediately.
Sunstroke or heat stroke can threaten.
© Ricardo Rubio/dpa
Exposing yourself to the sun for too long runs the risk of sunstroke or even heat stroke.
This is how you should react in an emergency.
Stuttgart - Summer has a firm grip on Germany.
High temperatures and sunshine lure people outside.
But there lurks the danger: far too often, the power and effect of the sun is underestimated.
Circulatory problems or sunburn can be the result.
Far worse, however, are sunstroke or heat stroke.
Anyone who does not react correctly or in good time endangers their health.
This can be done when the heat has already taken its toll on the body.
Recognizing sunstroke: How to treat it
Actually, common sense dictates that direct sun should be avoided on hot days.
When the weather is good at bathing lakes, in the garden or when sunbathing, it is not unusual to forget how quickly the sun's rays and heat can cause damage.
The right sun protection is important.
Anyone who sits in the blazing sun for too long usually feels listless and powerless.
So the first signs to get out of the sun as quickly as possible.
Drinking a lot and rest are then important.
But when is the body just overheating and when is there already talk of sunstroke and heat stroke?
The first symptoms of sunstroke are nausea, headaches or dizziness.
Symptoms are caused by heat build-up under the skull.
This dilates the blood vessels in the head and irritates the meninges.
Therefore: get out of the sun immediately!
Cooling is also important.
These measures help best against sunstroke:
get out of the sun and in a cool place
lie down and raise your head
Cool your neck with a damp cloth or washcloth
drink a lot, but never ice cold
It's not always easy to find a cool place in the summer.
Apartment and house often heat up too much.
With simple tricks, the apartment stays cool even in summer.
Danger to life from heat stroke: Never take the symptoms lightly
Heat stroke is far more dangerous.
Because if the warning signals of the body are ignored, there is even a risk of death.
People often suffer from heatstroke when they play sports or engage in physical activity in extreme temperatures.
Temperatures above 35 degrees and physical exertion are a dangerous combination, because the latter additionally heats up the body and it loses a lot of fluids.
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The signs of heat stroke are a flush in the face, dizziness, vomiting and convulsions.
Victims often faint.
Particularly striking: the person often hardly sweats and the skin is cool.
If the person is unresponsive, call an ambulance immediately.
What to do if you have heat stroke:
out of the sun and in a cool place
lay flat
drink something, but slowly and not too cold
a wet cloth on the back of the neck and on the head
Caution: No stimuli that are too cold, such as an ice-cold shower
It is important that the cooling takes place slowly and carefully.
An ice-cold shower, for example, is more of a strain on the body than helpful.
Other tips, on the other hand, ensure cooling off in summer.
In general, it is important to drink a lot when the temperature is high.
At least two liters of water a day are a must in hot weather.
Hot-cold changes, such as those caused by air conditioning in the car, should be avoided.
They put additional strain on the body.
Food that is too cold, such as ice cream, should also be avoided.
These often cause additional headaches.
Also important: don't forget your hat and sunglasses.
Elevated ozone levels and fluctuating blood pressure lead to headaches.
The eyes should also be protected and relieved from UV radiation.
