Heatstroke - Don't Take it Lightly

Beware of heatstroke! Here is one story about it.

The whole family went on a trekking trip down a canyon.  The heat was already unbearable at the top, and it was getting hotter as they all negotiated the trail downwards.  Worse, they brought just enough water with them to drink. Midway down the canyon, one of the children, a young boy of seven, fell face downward.  He sweated profusely and his heartbeat raced rapidly.  The boy was slowly slipping into unconsciousness. Worse, they ran out of water to drink. What we are seeing are the ominous signs of heatstroke.  Don't take it lightly.

Heatstroke can be life-threatening. People who suffer from heatstroke risk the chance of losing their life if it is not treated immediately.  But it is always better to go for prevention rather than experiencing personally.

It is simply hotter today than it was fifty years ago. The noonday sun is so unbearable this summer. There is a big chance of folks falling victims to heatstroke. So you guys out there, especially if you work outdoors, it is important to stay hydrated. Also, try to lessen being exposed to long periods of outdoor heat.

I came up with this blog to share what I've been reading about heatstroke and why is it getting hotter. Anyways, to avoid personally experiencing heatstroke, prevention and awareness are the keys. Avoid situations leading to heatstroke and watch out for telltale signs.

What then is heatstroke? 

It is a condition caused by your body overheating, as a result of prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Heatstroke is pretty dangerous if your body temperature heats up and rises up to 40 C or 104 F and higher. The outward signs of heatstroke are altered mental state or behavior. Sweating profusely, nausea and vomiting, flushed skin, rapid breathing, racing heart, and headache. These are the signs to watch out for.

How do we prevent heatstroke? 

Drink lots of water. Don't stay too long under the sun. Find some shade.  If a victim is already suffering from heatstroke, spray the affected with cool water. Fan the victim and place ice packs under the armpits and groin.  If a victim is not lucid, rush him or her immediately to the hospital for treatment.

There will be increased incidences of heat stroke because it is getting warmer every year. What's causing all of this heat. The earth is simply heating up.  This was the warning of Al Gore, the vice-president of the United States. Global warming is a progressing reality.  It is within our midst, and that all of us are now experiencing its bad side.

Now let's take a look at global warming which is the source of all this heat. What is it? What are the signs of global warming, and how do we all prevent global warming? Everyone is in on this because everyone is and will be affected.

Al Gore, the former vice-president of the U.S.A. came out with his presentation on global warming. It was quite informative and well researched. I guess he wanted to open the minds of his fellow Americans, and all the citizens of this planet to unite and help reverse the negative effects of global warming.  I saw an earlier version of his presentation and I was moved by it.  The latest presentation is also interesting.

A particular slide in Al Gore's presentation shows a graph that indicates that every decade is getting hotter.  Other slides show that the ice in the arctic circle is melting at a faster rate. Another slide shows that the sea temperatures are rising. Debilitating drought will be experienced in arid areas resulting in crop failures and widespread famine.  These are just a few of the negative effects of global warming presented by Al Gore.  I recommend you all watch the slide to know more.

Detractors have claimed that Al Gore's presentation on global warming was a complete hoax. Some politicians have said that Al Gore was spreading hyped falsehood. Why so? Probably Al Gore's campaign would negatively affect their collective political base (just wondering). Maybe they are just looking out for America's interest, whose economy would contract if draconian measures were to be implemented to reduce greenhouse gas emission.  

Based on what I've read recently from online sources, America is coming to terms with global warming. A lot of people are now raising their voices about the problems of global warming. Awareness is growing within the United States of America.

Because of global warming, it will not only be hotter in summer but it will also be wetter with stronger and vicious typhoons and hurricanes affecting coastal countries around the world. The Philippines is not a big contributor to worldwide CO2 emissions compared to more industrialized countries. Sadly, it is the most vulnerable to catastrophic weather upheavals, as mentioned by Al Gore about the recent typhoon Yolanda that hit Samar. Global warming is a reality and we are experiencing its downside. Our children and their children would be in dire straits if this is not addressed today.

The key message in reducing greenhouse gas emissions is reducing the carbon footprint of everybody in this wide wide world of ours. I guess I need to do my share in reducing my own carbon footprint so that Mother Earth won't heat up, which by the way is a simple win-win solution, but which seems hard to do.