Its very hot out there never forget there is always a danger of dehydration and or heat stroke:
Dehydration and heat stroke are two very common heat-related diseases that can be life-threatening if left untreated.
What is dehydration?
Dehydration can be a serious heat-related disease, as well as being a dangerous side-effect of diarrhea, vomiting and fever. Children and persons over the age of 60 are particularly susceptible to dehydration.
What causes dehydration?
Under normal conditions, we all lose body water daily through sweat, tears, urine and stool. In a healthy person, this water is replaced by drinking fluids and eating foods that contain water. When a person becomes so sick with fever, diarrhea, or vomiting or if an individual is overexposed to the sun, dehydration occurs. This is caused when the body loses water content and essential body salts such as sodium, potassium, calcium bicarbonate and phosphate.
Occasionally, dehydration can be caused by drugs, such as diuretics, which deplete body fluids and electrolytes. Whatever the cause, dehydration should be treated as soon as possible.
What are the symptoms of dehydration?
The following are the most common symptoms of dehydration, although each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
* thirst
* less-frequent urination
* dry skin
* fatigue
* light-headedness
* dizziness
* confusion
* dry mouth and mucous membranes
* increased heart rate and breathing
In children, additional symptoms may include:
* dry mouth and tongue
* no tears when crying
* no wet diapers for more than 3 hours
* sunken abdomen, eyes or cheeks
* high fever
* listlessness
* irritability
* skin that does not flatten when pinched and released
Treatment for dehydration:
If caught early, dehydration can often be treated at home under a physician's guidance. In children, directions for giving food and fluids will differ according to the cause of the dehydration, so it is important to consult your pediatrician.
In cases of mild dehydration, simple rehydration is recommended by drinking fluids. Many sports drinks on the market effectively restore body fluids, electrolytes, and salt balance.
For moderate dehydration, intravenous fluids may be required, although if caught early enough, simple rehydration may be effective. Cases of serious dehydration should be treated as a medical emergency, and hospitalization, along with intravenous fluids, is necessary. Immediate action should be taken.
How can dehydration be prevented?
Take precautionary measures to avoid the harmful effects of dehydration, including:
* Drink plenty of fluids, especially when working or playing in the sun.
* Make sure you are taking in more fluid than you are losing.
* Try to schedule physical outdoor activities for the cooler parts of the day.
* Drink appropriate sports drinks to help maintain electrolyte balance.
* For infants and young children, solutions like Pedialyte will help maintain electrolyte balance during illness or heat exposure. Do not try to make fluid and salt solutions at home for children.
What is heat stroke?
Heat stroke is the most severe form of heat illness and is a life-threatening emergency. It is the result of long, extreme exposure to the sun, in which a person does not sweat enough to lower body temperature. The elderly, infants, persons who work outdoors and those on certain types of medications are most susceptible to heat stroke. It is a condition that develops rapidly and requires immediate medical treatment.
What causes heat stroke?
Our bodies produce a tremendous amount of internal heat and we normally cool ourselves by sweating and radiating heat through the skin. However, in certain circumstances, such as extreme heat, high humidity or vigorous activity in the hot sun, this cooling system may begin to fail, allowing heat to build up to dangerous levels.
If a person becomes dehydrated and can not sweat enough to cool their body, their internal temperature may rise to dangerously high levels, causing heat stroke.
What are the symptoms of heat stroke?
The following are the most common symptoms of heat stroke, although each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
* headache
* dizziness
* disorientation, agitation or confusion
* sluggishness or fatigue
* seizure
* hot, dry skin that is flushed but not sweaty
* a high body temperature
* loss of consciousness
* rapid heart beat
* hallucinations
How is heat stroke treated?
It is important for the person to be treated immediately as heat stroke can cause permanent damage or death. There are some immediate first aid measures you can take while waiting for help to arrive.
* Get the person indoors.
* Remove clothing and gently apply cool water to the skin followed by fanning to stimulate sweating.
* Apply ice packs to the groin and armpits.
* Have the person lie down in a cool area with their feet slightly elevated
Intravenous fluids are often necessary to compensate for fluid or electrolyte loss. Bed rest is generally advised and body temperature may fluctuate abnormally for weeks after heat stroke.
How can heat stroke be prevented?
There are precautions that can help protect you against the adverse effects of heat stroke. These include:
* Drink plenty of fluids during outdoor activities, especially on hot days. Water and sports drinks are the drinks of choice; avoid tea, coffee, soda and alcohol as these can lead to dehydration.
* Wear lightweight, tightly woven, loose-fitting clothing in light colors.
* Schedule vigorous activity and sports for cooler times of the day.
* Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a hat, sunglasses and using an umbrella.
* Increase time spent outdoors gradually to get your body used to the heat.
* During outdoor activities, take frequent drink breaks and mist yourself with a spray bottle to avoid becoming overheated.
* Try to spend as much time indoors as possible on very hot and humid days.
If you live in a hot climate and have a chronic condition, talk to your physician about extra precautions you can take to protect yourself against heat stroke.
source University of Maryland Medical Center
Dehydration and Heat Stroke
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dr dave soul monsta
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Good advice Dave and for sure the proper time of the year to give it. It's going to get worse before it gets better.
One thing I'll add, drinking beer does not prevent dehydration and can actually accelerate it's onset in a hot climate. Apparently the alcohol is drying you out on the inside with every sip, and the water content is not enough to counter balance that.
Also, and I don't know if this is a Thai thing? My better half forbids me to take our 20 month old into the pool during the heat of the afternoon. She says "it's too hot/sunny for a baby...". I say "I know, that's why we're going into the pool..."
I even argue the "half farang thus stronger argument". I'm then attacked by half the females in the neighborhood, as well as granny at the corner shop. I then give up. Thai's seem to have a very high concern about children out in the mid-day heat even if they're in water up to their chins. Pete 
One thing I'll add, drinking beer does not prevent dehydration and can actually accelerate it's onset in a hot climate. Apparently the alcohol is drying you out on the inside with every sip, and the water content is not enough to counter balance that.
Also, and I don't know if this is a Thai thing? My better half forbids me to take our 20 month old into the pool during the heat of the afternoon. She says "it's too hot/sunny for a baby...". I say "I know, that's why we're going into the pool..."
I even argue the "half farang thus stronger argument". I'm then attacked by half the females in the neighborhood, as well as granny at the corner shop. I then give up. Thai's seem to have a very high concern about children out in the mid-day heat even if they're in water up to their chins. Pete -
dr dave soul monsta
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I've had a touch of heatstroke before. Not here, but in India.
Went with some others on pushbikes along a beach, probably 5 miles or so and I had a puncture. Had to walk the bike back and stupidly left my shirt off with the sun on my back and neck the whole way.
Reckon I was pretty dehydrated by the time we got to the first shack selling water and later that night I felt I was coming down with flu, had the shakes and vomiting.
Fine the next day, so it wasn't a serious condition. But certainly not pleasant.
Went with some others on pushbikes along a beach, probably 5 miles or so and I had a puncture. Had to walk the bike back and stupidly left my shirt off with the sun on my back and neck the whole way.
Reckon I was pretty dehydrated by the time we got to the first shack selling water and later that night I felt I was coming down with flu, had the shakes and vomiting.
Fine the next day, so it wasn't a serious condition. But certainly not pleasant.
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malcolminthemiddle
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I’ve had a couple of experiences.
Some years back I had been working in Bangkok for about 10 months without a break when I took my first holiday and went down to Pattaya for some much needed R & R. First day rented a bike and drove down to Rayong and back. Like a fool shirt off, sun on the back and wind in the face, spent the next 7 days stuck in the hotel recovering from serious sun burn especially to my face which turned into one big blister.
The second time was not so long ago, playing golf with the HH Golf Society at Milford I came over all funny on the 18th hole. Friends laid me out on the granite floor in the changing room and surrounded me with fans, I recovered after about an hour but at one time I did feel really poorly. We weren’t sure whether it was heat stroke/dehydration or the excitement of birdying the 17th. When I did manage to get up off the floor, there was my silhouette on the floor chalked out like a murder scene.
Some years back I had been working in Bangkok for about 10 months without a break when I took my first holiday and went down to Pattaya for some much needed R & R. First day rented a bike and drove down to Rayong and back. Like a fool shirt off, sun on the back and wind in the face, spent the next 7 days stuck in the hotel recovering from serious sun burn especially to my face which turned into one big blister.
The second time was not so long ago, playing golf with the HH Golf Society at Milford I came over all funny on the 18th hole. Friends laid me out on the granite floor in the changing room and surrounded me with fans, I recovered after about an hour but at one time I did feel really poorly. We weren’t sure whether it was heat stroke/dehydration or the excitement of birdying the 17th. When I did manage to get up off the floor, there was my silhouette on the floor chalked out like a murder scene.
Good advice from Dr. Dave, I used to work in Indonesia and if we were working outside for long periods of time, we used to get through astonishing amounts of water. Three of us could get through most of a fifteen liter water butt in a day.
As was mentioned above, you have to be careful of the electrolytes and salts that get removed by sweating, and not replenished by drinking water; if you are in situations like this regularly you can buy oral re-hydration salts to take as tablets or a powder to dissolve in water.
A good simple sign that you may be heading for problems is if you have had to drink large quantities and have not had to visit the toilet for a long time.
As was mentioned above, you have to be careful of the electrolytes and salts that get removed by sweating, and not replenished by drinking water; if you are in situations like this regularly you can buy oral re-hydration salts to take as tablets or a powder to dissolve in water.
A good simple sign that you may be heading for problems is if you have had to drink large quantities and have not had to visit the toilet for a long time.
dehydration
If you do not have sports drinks or electyrolytes available you should put fish sauce or soy sauce on your food.
These contain a variety of electrolytes as well as ordinary salt.
These contain a variety of electrolytes as well as ordinary salt.
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FutureResident
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Heat....
Prior to heat stroke is a condition know as heat exhaustion....the big differance is that you are still able to sweat etc. As to the various drinks ther is some differance of opinioon about what to do as many contain very high salt contents and that is not what you need for heat ex/stroke. Gator Aid..the stuff developed at University of Florida is alot like what ou sweat out so it is great but not all drinks do that for you so the recommended fluid ingestin is Nam Plau....Water cool but no Ice.
Nam Palu Nam Kang Mia Dai as I tell the Thai flight attentandents and same goes for a person with heat exhaust.... Now, Heat Stroke is a very life threating condition that requires cooling but need to be done under the supervision of a Physician.... Don't, on your own, put then into a bath of Ice Water.... can cause cardiac arrest or something less but still bad.
Good note as to alchol drinks....NOT, acts as a diuretic and that will require more hydration.....Water..NO ICE
Nam Palu Nam Kang Mia Dai as I tell the Thai flight attentandents and same goes for a person with heat exhaust.... Now, Heat Stroke is a very life threating condition that requires cooling but need to be done under the supervision of a Physician.... Don't, on your own, put then into a bath of Ice Water.... can cause cardiac arrest or something less but still bad.
Good note as to alchol drinks....NOT, acts as a diuretic and that will require more hydration.....Water..NO ICE
Yes, for sure but, it all depends upon how deep you take them.BaaBaa. wrote:prcscct wrote:Thai's seem to have a very high concern about children out in the mid-day heat even if they're in water up to their chins.
Pete, you do know you burn just as easy, if not worse in water, right?
A red snapper she's not, more like a grouper? 
This is not a sunburn issue but more of a heat issue. She browns, totally bypassing the burn phase. The biggest concern seems to be heat on her head, a hat must go on if we go into the pool in the early/mid afternoons. Honestly, I think it's just jealousy that her hair is getting lighter than her Mom's. 
Pete 
Pete