DOH Heatstroke Prevention Tips: Keep yourself hydrated

"Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated." It's summer time again and the intense heat can be dangerous to your health. The Department of Health (DOH) warn the public about the dangers of heatstroke. Due to the heat, our body releases a lot of water through bodily sweats.

DOH Secretary Janette L. Garin said, “Dapat talaga may tubig (We should not forget to drink water, or bring safe drinking water with you anytime).”

Secretary Garin of DOH added the following preventive tips:

– Avoid spending too much time outdoors, specially when the sun is up
– Avoid tea, coffee, soda and alcohol;
– Wear a wide-brimmed hat, use umbrella and long-sleeved clothing when outdoors
– Schedule heavy-duty activities for the beginning or end of the day, when it’s cooler or at least in the air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.

Heat stroke is the most severe form of heat injury and happens when the body fails to cool down.

It happens when the body temperature is between 104 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit which start to manifest once the body fails to recover from heat exhaustion.

Under this condition heat stroke victims are not able to sweat and release excessive heat due to dehydration and humid temperature.

Although some age groups such as the elderly and young children are considered high-risk, everyone who is exposed directly to the sun can be a victim of heat stroke.

Some signs of heat exhaustion: dizziness or fainting; anxiety; headache; intense thirst, dehydration; and weakness or discomfort.

Other signs and symptoms include delirium; unconsciousness or comatose; very high core body temperature of 400 Centigrade or more; hot, dry skin; rapid heartbeat; and convulsion.

As first-aid measures, the following are suggested to be done if one encounters people experiencing heat strokes:

– Move the person to a shady spot or indoors and have them lie down with their legs elevated. If they’re conscious, have them sip cool water;
– Remove clothing, apply cool water to the skin and fan them;
– Apply ice packs to the armpits, wrists, ankles and groin; and
– Bring the person to a hospital immediately.

DOH tracking fellow passengers of OFW with MERS

The Department of Health (DOH) have advised 415 passengers who are in the same airline flight with a man infected with the MERS virus. DOH wants them to get themselves checked by the department immediately.

DOH issued the order to passengers on the Etihad Airways flight EY 0424 from Abu Dhabi to Manila on April 15, 2014.

It is a precautionary measure to make sure that the deadly MERS virus don't infect anyone in the country. The man who has been diagnosed with the virus has since been quarantined along with his family.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona said, of the 415 passengers of EY 0424, 119 have been contacted and 72 have been tested with 40 of them have negative results.

The virus incubation period is 14 days, all passengers should submit to testing.

MERS virus is considered a deadlier but less-transmissible cousin of the SARS virus that erupted in Asia in 2003 and infected 8,273 people in which 9% died.