What are the initial steps of treating sunstroke in a child?

Dr. Maria Vorotnitseva, a pediatrician, determined the first aid that should be given to a child with heat stroke.

In an interview with Gazeta.Ru, the doctor pointed out that heat stroke is a condition that occurs when the child’s head is exposed to sunlight for a long time, which leads to an increase in the temperature of the brain tissues, and, consequently, to the expansion of the brain vessels and making them permeable , which can lead to tissue swelling and cell damage.

She says: “This situation is especially dangerous for young children, because they have an insufficiently developed system of thermoregulation, and the fontanel is open, which increases the active effect of sunlight on the child’s brain.”

According to her, with sunstroke in a young child, he becomes capricious, lethargic, loses his appetite, experiences nausea and vomiting, may suffer from diarrhea, his temperature rises to 39-40 degrees Celsius, which is accompanied by redness of his face and body. As for older children, they complain of headaches, blurred vision, shortness of breath, and may suffer from cold sweat.

She says: “The first aid is to take the child to the shade, and preferably to a cool place (refrigeration room), then call an ambulance or take him to the nearest hospital. The child should lie on his back with his legs elevated, and then start to cool his body by placing a wet towel on his head.He can be given fluids such as glucose solution or saline.

According to her, convulsions, loss of consciousness, pallor of the skin, rapid or slow heartbeat indicate that the injury is severe.

Source: Gazeta.Ru