With hot temperatures in South Africa, the potential health risks of heat exposure should not be underestimated.
“The public are urged to take the necessary precautions during widespread heatwave conditions across the country to prevent medical emergencies linked to high temperatures,” says Mande Toubkin, Netcare’s general manager of emergency, trauma, transplant and corporate social investment.
“In hot and humid conditions, a person can quickly develop heat exhaustion – especially if they are physically active and not drinking enough fluids. Extra care is needed for children and older people in the heat, as well as individuals with chronic conditions such as epilepsy, high blood pressure or diabetes. Certain medications, such as diuretics, can also increase vulnerability to dehydration and heat stroke.”
She says usually, our bodies can regulate our temperature by releasing excess heat via the skin or through the evaporation of perspiration, but in extreme heat and humidity, the body may not be able to cool itself fast enough.
Dehydration and overexertion can also cause a person to develop potentially serious conditions. Signs of heat exhaustion include nausea, headache, vomiting, fatigue, muscle cramps, aches and dizziness.
