Emergency rooms prepared for heat patients

First patient with symptoms of heat

07/27/2012

Due to the high temperatures, the first heat patients had to be treated in Hamburg clinics. As the Asklepios clinics announced on Thursday, the emergency departments currently expect „with an increased incidence of patients with heat-related complaints.“

In the course of the midsummer temperatures, the first heat patients were treated in the Hamburg hospitals. If the weather conditions persist, the experts predict that about one in ten patients in the emergency room will be admitted due to heat symptoms. Many of those affected suffer from lack of fluid as reported by Asklepios clinics

Heat warning in Hamburg
For the second day in a row, the German Weather Service had issued a heat warning for Hamburg due to the temperatures of over 32 degrees Celsius. „In such weather conditions, if it lasts a little longer, according to experience about every tenth patient will be a heat patient“, report in this regard the experts of Asklepios clinics. „In recent years, even up to 25 percent of emergency patients were temporarily taken to emergency rooms due to heat“, so the message of the clinics. Typical complaints are headache, circulatory problems, dizziness as well as general malaise.

Health risk due to heat on the head and lack of fluids
According to Professor dr. Gunter N. Schmidt, Chief Physician of the Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Pain Management at the Asklepios Clinic Altona, are the lack of fluids and direct heat on the head „especially dangerous.“ The lack of fluid in the body is the result of too low fluid intake and increased fluid loss through sweating. In addition to the symptoms already mentioned, this could also lead to a clouding of consciousness as a serious consequence of the heat, explained Prof. Schmidt. Therefore, according to the emergency and intensive care physicians, especially old and sick people should be extra careful at high temperatures. According to the body's experts, when heat waves with temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius persist for over a week, the body usually acclimatises quite well, so that the most serious problems usually occur at the beginning of the warm periods.

Elderly people especially prone to dehydration
Older people react to Prof. Dr. med. According to Schmidt sensitive to the loss of fluid, as they account for the share of fluid in body weight only 50 percent. In addition, in the heat with the body water is always excreted sodium salt, especially from the body cells including the nervous tissue. The latter dry out completely, those affected become tired and dull, the ability to react diminishes and in extreme cases can lead to confusion, explained the chief physician of the Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Pain Therapy at the Asklepios Clinic Altona.

Tips for dealing with the high summer temperatures
To avoid health problems caused by the high summer temperatures, the experts at Asklepios clinics recommend, for example, wearing cool clothing, staying in cool rooms or avoiding unusual physical exertion. Also, sensitive people should not be exposed to the blazing sun, quietly take an extended lunch break and change their diet to light meals such as vegetables, fish or fruit. In general, it is important to ensure adequate fluid intake, with the best use of mineral water or fruit juice spritzers. Alcohol should be avoided. When staying in the sun, the experts at Asklepios clinics also advise wearing bright headgear.

In case of heat stroke, alert the rescue service
If the heat stroke or collapse has already set in, according to the hospital „immediately the rescue service of the fire-brigade under the telephone number 112“ be notified. Concerned patients should be kept in a cool place, their clothes should be loosened, and cooling with damp cloth is recommended, the experts explain. „Also serve drinks, not too cool and not too much at a time“, so the recommendation of Asklepios clinics. (Fp)

Also read:
Heat: Melons are good thirst quenchers
Refreshing tea tips for hot summer days
Attention high ozone levels measured
In summer weather only in the evening hot meals
Just creamed with sunscreen in the sun
Health risk due to increased ozone concentration

Picture credits: Lilo Kapp