Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1907 — ABOUT SUNSTROKE. [ARTICLE]

ABOUT SUNSTROKE.

Two deaths from sunstroke occurred in Indiana in the week beginning June 16. If people would exercise intelligent care, sunstroke would be avoided. We should be careful not to expose ourselves unnecessarily in hot weather. When it is very hot we should be extra careful. Being careful is to keep cool as to temper, preserve a placid mind, don’t worry, and the body will not get so hot. Avoid all alcoholic drinks. Beer is not so refreshing as cool water, and a reaction follows beer drinking. We should remember it is a natural law, that —what goes up most come down, and if we push up our nerves and heart with beer or othalcoholic drinks, the nerves and heart must oome down again, and they frequently come down with a thump. We should practice extreme temperance in all things in hot weather. We should eat less, avoid meats especially, and hold ourselves down to fruits, cereals and milk. Butter milk is an extra wholesome summer drink. Weak iced tea in moderation isn’t a bad summer drink. Strong hot coffee and tea are bad. They contain a drug (caffein) which is a heart and nerve stimulant, and it is with this drug as with alcohol, —heart and nerves pushed up by it, are sure to come down again. Hot weather is sufficiently stimulating of itself, therefore avoid stimulants when it is hot. He is a foolish man who eats stimulating food and drinks alcoholic liquors in hot weather. Autopsies show that nearly all persons dead of sunstroke have full stomachs. Workmen exposed to the direct rays of the sun should have their heads well protected and should wear woolen next to the skin. A very good precaution is a pad of cotton batten or flanel sewed along the back of the undergarment so as to protect the spine. Walk on the shady side of the street; avoid over exertion; let the air oiroulate freely about the head, either by frequent removal of the hat, or by perforating the hat. Heat exhaustion, is mild sunstroke. In case either happens, call a reliable physician. Don’t trust to your own treatment unless a physician cannot be secured. But, while waiting for a physician, remove the pateint into the shade, dash the head and chest with cold water, give two or three drops of aqua ammonia in cool Water, and also apply a few drops of ammonia to the nose on a handerchief. State Board of Bulletin. 7