Climatic injuries are injuries caused by both heat and cold. Each of these conditions affects the body differently and we need to know how to deal with each of these effects properly.
Lesson no. 17
Climatic Injuries
Climatic injuries are injuries caused by both heat and cold. Each of these conditions affects the body differently and we need to know how to deal with each of these effects properly.
Dehydration is caused by a loss of fluid balance in the body. This is where a person has lost a large amount of liquid, for example by sweating, but has not replaced the liquid by drinking water. Maintaining a proper water balance is vital for the proper functioning of our body, and in extreme cases, dehydration can lead to death.
In any strenuous activity such as running, hiking, or even just on a particularly hot day, it is very important to drink water to avoid dehydration. It is important to emphasize that when there is any doubt whether the situation is a result of dehydration or a heat stroke, the case should be treated as a heat stroke.

Heatstroke is defined as a condition where the body temperature rises above 40 degrees Celsius. As in the case of electrocution, in high heat, the proteins in the body undergo denaturation, a change in their spatial structure. In our case, the point is that they will stop functioning properly. Because the enzymes in our bodies are made up of proteins and are the ones responsible for most of the biological processes in our bodies, this condition is life-threatening. Heatstroke is a condition that results in near-term death and requires urgent care.
Hypothermia is defined as a decrease in body temperature below about 35 degrees. This condition is most often caused while out in the cold for a long time or being in cold conditions after excessive sweating. When the body temperature drops below 32 degrees, the symptoms change and get worse. Cold conditions affect blood flow in the body. Under these conditions, peripheral blood vessels undergo vasoconstriction (contraction) and blood does not reach the periphery sufficiently (fingers, limbs). Therefore, after being out in cold conditions for too long, necrosis develops in these organs. It is important to emphasize that when you encounter a person who has been in cold conditions for a long time, you may be confused because you will not see him shaking and he may even behave as if everything is well.
Heat-induced seizures are a relatively common phenomenon in children (ages six months to five years) whose body temperature rises above roughly 38 degrees as a result of a virus or illness. Heat-induced seizures usually last about five minutes and in exceptional cases can take up to fifteen minutes.