What to do if you faint from heat stroke

Even if you have not experienced heatstroke yourself, you must have heard of it in your daily life. Heatstroke usually occurs in the summer when the weather is very hot, because the air humidity is relatively high in summer and people are prone to feeling dizzy. Heatstroke can be divided into mild heatstroke and severe heatstroke. But more severe heatstroke can cause fainting. So what should you do after fainting from heatstroke?

The heatstroke we usually encounter is usually a syndrome caused by heavy physical labor in an environment with high temperature and high humidity, which leads to temperature regulation disorders and water and electrolyte imbalance. Heat stroke is characterized by high fever, dry skin, and central nervous system symptoms. Depending on the severity, it can be divided into precursors of heatstroke, mild heatstroke and severe heatstroke. When suffering from mild heatstroke, the patient will experience fatigue, excessive sweating, thirst, headache, dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, nausea, chest tightness, flushed face, burning skin, and body temperature above 38°C. It may also be accompanied by vomiting, pale complexion, increased pulse rate, decreased blood pressure, cold and wet skin and other early signs of peripheral circulatory failure. In addition to the above symptoms, severe heatstroke may also cause heat cramps, abdominal pain, high fever, fainting, coma, collapse or shock.

When a person with severe heat stroke faints, the following is the treatment:

(1) Leave the high temperature environment promptly and lie quietly in a cool, ventilated place, and observe changes in body temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure. Take anti-heat and cooling drugs: Ren Dan, Shi Di Shui or Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San, etc. And supplement with salt-containing cooling drinks: light salt water, cold watermelon water, mung bean soup, etc.

The heatstroke we usually encounter is usually a syndrome caused by heavy physical labor in an environment with high temperature and high humidity, which leads to temperature regulation disorders and water and electrolyte imbalance. Heat stroke is characterized by high fever, dry skin, and central nervous system symptoms. Depending on the severity, it can be divided into precursors of heatstroke, mild heatstroke and severe heatstroke. When suffering from mild heatstroke, the patient will experience fatigue, excessive sweating, thirst, headache, dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, nausea, chest tightness, flushed face, burning skin, and body temperature above 38°C. It may also be accompanied by vomiting, pale complexion, increased pulse rate, decreased blood pressure, cold and wet skin and other early signs of peripheral circulatory failure. In addition to the above symptoms, severe heatstroke may also cause heat cramps, abdominal pain, high fever, fainting, coma, collapse or shock.

When a person with severe heat stroke faints, the following is the treatment:

(1) Leave the high temperature environment promptly and lie quietly in a cool, ventilated place, and observe changes in body temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure. Take anti-heat and cooling drugs: Ren Dan, Shi Di Shui or Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San, etc. And supplement with salt-containing cooling drinks: light salt water, cold watermelon water, mung bean soup, etc.

(2) For patients with red complexions, their heads can be raised; for patients with pale complexions, their heads should be lowered to ensure blood supply to the brain.

(3) Apply cold compress to the patient’s head and repeatedly scrub it with 50% alcohol or cold or ice water to help cool down and dissipate heat.

(4) If the patient is unconscious, use cigarette butts to stimulate his nostrils to help him wake up. At the same time, acupuncture or pinching of the Ren Zhong, Shi Xuan, and Bai Hui points can help him regain consciousness.

The mortality rate for those with severe heatstroke with a body temperature over 40°C is 41.7%; if it exceeds 42°C, the mortality rate will be as high as 81.3%. Therefore, when dealing with someone suffering from heat stroke, first ensure that the person is moved to a cool and ventilated place, and then try to lower their body temperature. People who suffer from heatstroke often experience coma, vomiting, etc. Care should be taken to prevent vomitus from blocking the respiratory tract, and to promptly clean up the dirt in their mouths and noses to avoid adverse consequences due to breathing difficulties. Regardless of whether the above methods are effective for the heat stroke patient, the heat stroke patient should be sent to the hospital for treatment as soon as possible. Don't forget to cool down on the way!

(2) For patients with red complexions, their heads can be raised; for patients with pale complexions, their heads should be lowered to ensure blood supply to the brain.

(3) Apply cold compress to the patient’s head and repeatedly scrub it with 50% alcohol or cold or ice water to help cool down and dissipate heat.

(4) If the patient is unconscious, use cigarette butts to stimulate his nostrils to help him wake up. At the same time, acupuncture or pinching of the Ren Zhong, Shi Xuan, and Bai Hui points can help him regain consciousness.

The mortality rate for those with severe heatstroke with a body temperature over 40°C is 41.7%; if it exceeds 42°C, the mortality rate will be as high as 81.3%. Therefore, when dealing with someone suffering from heat stroke, first ensure that the person is moved to a cool and ventilated place, and then try to lower their body temperature. People who suffer from heatstroke often experience coma, vomiting, etc. Care should be taken to prevent vomitus from blocking the respiratory tract, and to promptly clean up the dirt in their mouths and noses to avoid adverse consequences due to breathing difficulties. Regardless of whether the above methods are effective for the heat stroke patient, the heat stroke patient should be sent to the hospital for treatment as soon as possible. Don't forget to cool down on the way!