Keralites should be extra cautious until Thursday as rising temperatures could cause sunstroke. Ernakulam (8), Kollam (4), Kottayam (2), Palakkad (2), Kozhikode (2), Malappuram (1) and Thrissur (1) saw several cases of sunburn on Monday.
Two people - KV Abraham (75) from Perur, Ettumanoor and Naduthattil Ramachandran (60) from Kodiyadu, Vaikom - experienced sunburn in Kottayam and received medical attention. Two cases in Thalayolapparambu were reported the other day.
Special attention at hospitals
Preparations have been made at hospitals to treat sunstroke, Health Ministry has announced.
What is sunstroke?
The body’s mechanism to maintain temperature fails when heat rises beyond a limit. This creates a condition called sunstroke where heat inside the body is not expelled. Body temperature above 103 degree Fahrenheit, reddish and hot skin, severe headache, sprains, giddiness, slower pulse rate, disorientation and loss of consciousness can occur. Urgent medical care is required.
What is heat exhaustion?
A less severe condition than sunstroke. Loss of water and minerals from body because of extreme heat results in fatigue, headache, nausea, lesser and discoloured urine and loss of consciousness are symptoms. Skin exposed to direct sunlight turns red, inflamed and flaky as from a burn injury.
What to do?
In case of sunstroke or sunburn, move into a shade and relax. Remove thick cloths. Dab body with cold water. Drink lots of water. Eat fruits and salads. Take the unconscious to hospital urgently. Leave blisters on sunburned areas alone. Drink at least 3 litres of water even when not thirsty. Add more fruits and vegetable in diet. Leave doors and windows open. Do not leave children unattended in parked cars.
