Ways to Avoid “Heat Wave”

Over the past 1200 years, the abundant use of fossil fuels has increased the temperature of our earth and it continues to rise. This rising temperature is changing the planet’s climate and weather.

That is why the miracles of heavy rains and extreme heat or cold have been born. For example, in the recent month of April, Pakistan was hit by heavy rains, although this month usually does not receive heavy rains. Due to them floods occurred in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which caused loss of life and property. Now it is news that “Heat wave” will continue to attack the provinces of Punjab and Sindh in the coming days.

Heat wave is also a result of climate change. It occurs when a “high-pressure area” of air develops over a country or a large region. The air pressure in this area is higher than the air blowing in the neighboring areas. In the past, such high pressure areas rarely occurred. But now they are starting to target many countries due to climate change. There are two types: cold and hot.

When a high-pressure area is born near the poles, it is called “cold”. Then it drops the temperature in its area very much and creates severe cold that freezes the blood. This wonder is the America, Canada and the poles. It has come up in other surrounding countries. “Hot” high pressure areas develop in equatorial countries. Then the temperature in the area is 5-6 degrees Celsius higher than normal. And if there is excess moisture in the area or a severe lack of it, then this situation causes more damage to the organisms.

Cold or warm high pressure areas usually persist for two days to a month. If their duration increases, then obviously, the daily life in the human settlements coming under their sphere is seriously affected. Especially children, elderly and men with heart disease or diabetes can get sick due to weak body immune system. God willing, if someone does not get medical help soon, he can die. This is the reason, whether it is a heat wave or a cold one, many people die after being enveloped by it. It is as if a dangerous natural disaster has been created from the inside of climate change.

Effects on the human body

The heat wave threatens the lives of millions of countrymen due to high temperatures in Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan. It also has a negative impact on economic activities. However, human health is directly affected by it. The reason is that our body naturally maintains a temperature of 37 degrees Celsius. When this temperature also increases due to heat, in order to reduce it, our body system dilates the blood vessels so that the heat in the blood escapes from the skin in the form of sweat. This process also causes low blood pressure. In this situation, the heart has to work harder to deliver blood to the whole body, especially the brain. In this condition, less blood reaches the brain, that’s why the person starts feeling dizzy and the mental power decreases.

Three medical conditions

Therefore, in a heat wave environment, a person is first subjected to low blood pressure. Then salts and other solutes leave the body in the form of sweat. If a person does not get rid of low blood pressure and stays away from water and food, he first suffers from a medical condition called “Heat Cramp”. In this condition, different parts of the body become swollen. are Seizures may also occur.

If heat cramps persist for some time, they turn into the next severe medical condition, “heat exhaustion”. Symptoms of this medical condition are:

* Red spots on the body where there is itching. * Swelling of the feet. * Dizziness. * Nausea. If these symptoms persist, a heart attack or heart attack may occur because the human body’s system is trying its best to maintain its natural temperature.

The last serious medical condition caused by a heat wave is heat stroke. In this condition, severe fever rises and the person does not remain in his senses.

How to stay safe from heat wave

You can save your life and that of your loved ones by taking the following precautions:

* Wear open clothes and take a hat on your head if you go out. Or use an umbrella. If possible, apply a cream on your face that protects you from the heat of the sun.

Eat small amounts of food and drink water at regular intervals. It is better if the food is brothy. Drink water even if you are not thirsty. Do not eat high protein foods. Also avoid stale food.

Stay in the room and go out only when necessary. Avoid going out in the afternoon.

Keep your body temperature moderate with the help of fan, AC, moderate cold water and bath. If it’s too hot, you can go to a mosque or a shopping mall, where the air conditioner is usually cool.

* Do not take tea, coffee and bottles in large quantities as they can cause physical dryness.

* Hang curtains on the windows and doors of the house so that the heat from outside cannot enter.

Do not wear dark colored clothes as they absorb heat.

Keep a bottle of water with you if you go out.

* Go in the sun as little as possible between eleven o’clock and three o’clock, when its intensity is the highest.

* Do not leave children and animals in the parked car and do not let them play in the park in the afternoon.

If possible, plant trees in the house. They will naturally keep the house cool.

If someone becomes a target!

As mentioned, children, the elderly and the sick can easily become victims of medical disorders associated with this condition in heat wave environments. Therefore, they must take preventive measures. If a loved one suffers from “heat exhaustion” or “heat stroke”, take the following steps to rehabilitate:

}…move it to a cool place immediately.

} … Lie down on a flat surface and keep your feet slightly elevated.

} … water it abundantly. You can also give fruit juice. However, do not bottle feed.

} … try to cool the body. For example, spray cold water on the body and fan it with a hand fan or a book etc. If possible, apply cold packs to armpits and neck. It is important to keep the skin moist.

If the person recovers within half an hour, he starts to recover. But if the condition continues to worsen, take him to the hospital as soon as possible. Because after half an hour the patient becomes subject to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. A prominent sign of heat stroke is that the patient does not sweat even in high temperatures. Also faints. He may also have seizures.

Residents of coastal areas

As mentioned earlier, our body cools itself by sweating. But if there is more humidity in the environment, sweating does not occur. Thus the physical system of cooling becomes ineffective. Karachi, Gwadar, Pasni, Badin etc. are located near the sea. Therefore, when there is a heat wave in these places, usually the humidity in the air also increases. In this situation, the temperature of just 38 degrees Celsius becomes dangerous because a person cannot reduce his body temperature by sweating. Compatriots living in Karachi and other coastal areas of Pakistan should take special precautions to stay safe from the heat wave.