How to Get Through This Summer | Shohei Onishi (Dean, Graduate School of Health Management)
2007.08.02
By the time my Dean's Diary is published, it will be the height of summer, so I would like to talk about heatstroke. Every summer, I personally receive many requests from various media outlets to talk about or provide information on heatstroke. I recognize that public relations are extremely important. Heatstroke is one of the causes of death during exercise, and the number of cases is not insignificant, so we must have a thorough understanding and take appropriate measures.
In Europe right now, days with temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius continue due to a heatwave, and hundreds of people have died from heatstroke. Many of them are elderly. The elderly have a lower tolerance to heat than younger people. It is understood that the elderly are at a higher risk of heatstroke because they are more prone to dehydration due to factors such as lower body water content, a reduced capacity to sweat, and not feeling thirst as strongly. They cannot sweat the necessary amount, and their weak sense of thirst leads to insufficient fluid intake.
As a countermeasure, regular hydration is fundamental. If you are eating proper meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plain water is sufficient for hydration. Additionally, overuse of air conditioning can disrupt the body's ability to regulate its temperature, so overcooling should be avoided. A temperature difference of no more than 5 degrees Celsius between indoors and outdoors is preferable. Try to use air conditioning effectively in combination with a fan.
If you see someone with heatstroke, move them to a cool place and cool them down first. If ice is available, the key is to thoroughly cool the arteries in the neck, armpits, solar plexus, and groin. Do not force them to drink water, as they might accidentally inhale it into their lungs. While providing this first aid, call for an ambulance.
(Posted: 2007/08/02)