With the summer coming closer, we will go a little deeper into the dangers of being exposed to the extreme heat UAE brings to us.
During off-roading, some activities such as recovery work, replacing tyres, and dealing with pop-outs, are physically demanding, and many of us who are in office jobs are not trained to cope with this amount of heat.
Luckily with the help of some basic things, we can minimize the risk of below mentioned issues.
The following risks are identified:
Heat exhaustion:
Warning signs: A person may suddenly look pale. Heart rate will increase and the victim may complain of feeling dizzy and nauseous. A feeling of weakness is also common.
What to do: Seek shade immediately and lie down, especially if you’re feeling lightheaded. Apply a cold compress to the forehead and remove extra layers.
Heat Stroke:
Warning signs: Heat stroke is a type of hypothermia where the body temperature is greatly elevated. If not treated immediately it can be fatal. Symptoms are similar to those of a heart attack, along with nausea, headaches, hallucinations, difficulty in breathing, and agitation,
What to do: apply cool water to the skin and place ice packs under the arms to reduce the temperature quickly.
Preventive Measures:
• Sip some water all day long, rather than just when you are thirsty. If you are thirsty it means you are already dehydrated.
• Wear light clothing that can "breathe", but also wear sunblock and keep your head protected with a cap or hat.
• Some fruit and vegetables can re-hydrate the body even more than water. Carry some in your cooler.
• Water is important, but too much water can be dangerous as it can cause electrolyte depletion. Limit yourselves to 2-3 liters per day.
• When recovering a vehicle in full sun, limit your exposure time and take some rest every couple of minutes. Because you are focused on the task at hand, you might completely forget the heat and become dizzy and exhausted.
• If at some point you feel unwell, inform your club members immediately. When driving, inform immediately over the radio so the convoy can be stopped.
• Keep an eye out for your fellow club members. It is relatively easy to recognize above symptoms in somebody else. Let them take appropriate rest.
Please do share your tips, hints, experiences !