Kasaragod: Heat and humidity have been troubling the citizens here during the past weeks.
The atmospheric temperature has been around 37 degrees Celsius on an average last week. Lack of movement of air too has added to the situation.
The Met officials have predicted summer showers and lowering of temperature as a result, though.
Heat-stroke, commonly known as sun-stroke, has resulted in at least three cases of injuries in the district on Friday.
A H Muttalib, correspondent of an eveninger published from here, suffered serious burns in the back as he rode his bike from Kumbla to Kasaragod after gathering news.
Unable to stand it, he got himself admitted to the general hospital. The doctors examined him and confirmed it to be a case of heat-stroke.
Similarly, two children in Kanhangad developed blisters in the back. They too have been hospitalized.
Useful information
Heat stroke, also known as sunstroke, is a serious medical condition, a medical emergency, when the body’s temperature rises too high as a result of excessive heat exposure. The body loses its ability to cool itself and overheats.
When a person’s body temperature is greater than 40.6°C – this is caused by environmental heat exposure with poor thermoregulation (temperature control) – it leads to heat stroke.
Heat stroke is not a fever, where the body deliberately raises its temperature in response to, for example an infection.
There are three levels of heat emergencies – heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, with heat stroke being the most severe and life-threatening.
Covering the body from direct exposure to sun, application of a suitable lotion under medical guidance and intake of large quantity of water are some of the ideal precautions to avoid heat-stroke.
