To prevent heat-related complications and to know what
to do in case of an emergency, it is important to understand how the body's
thermoregulation system works.
To maintain a body temperature around 37.5o
C the brain, via its control center located in the
hypothalamus, automatically adjusts the
production and retention of heat according to the information provided by the
skin temperature sensors distributed over the body. This is called
thermoregulation.
Problems can occur when the function of the system is
impaired by disease, injury, toxins or medications. The system can also be
overwhelmed by extreme environmental conditions or during physical exertion in
these environments.
The body stores heat from the outside through
direct solar radiation, reflected off objects or diffused under a cloud cover.
It is also heated by infrared radiation which acts directly on the body without
heating the ambient air. Finally, it is heated by direct contact with a warm
object or clothing. It also generates its own internal heat by its metabolic
activity as well as by the activation of the muscles. This is why the body
starts to shiver when it is cold.
To evacuate heat, the body must use various mechanisms :
- · Evaporation takes place through breathing and perspiration. When the outside environment is humid, this mechanism is unfortunately not very effective. Therefore, other means must be found to cool down or cool down a victim because a simple fan will not make a big difference.
- · Direct conduction with a cold object or environment. Therefore, you should not hesitate to cool yourself with ice directly on your head, face and neck at every opportunity when you are active in a very hot environment.
- · Convection is achieved by the movement of air or water. This is the principle of the convection oven which accelerates the cooking process by circulating the air in the oven. On the contrary, if you want to cool someone quickly, the best way is to immerse him in cold water and circulate it or to cover him with ice and then spray him with water.
- · To influence the transport of heat to the outside the body will use the dilation of blood vessels to direct circulation to the skin and extremities. This is what gives the face its red appearance when we are hot and active. Conversely, it will close the peripheral circulation if it wants to keep the heat towards the center.
- · It is also important to protect yourself and a victim of heat from radiation as much as possible. Light-colored, heat-reflecting clothing made of materials that allow for air circulation and evaporation is recommended. Also, heat victims should be quickly protected from the sun.
- · Finally, keeping yourself well hydrated promotes better blood circulation and better transport of heat to the periphery. We recommend drinking cold water as much as possible because it is better absorbed and helps cool us down.
Better understanding allows us to intervene in a more efficient way. This is what our training courses advocate by offering you more than ready-made recipes or diagrams to follow. Learning through experience and a good understanding of the essential principles is the philosophy of SIRIUSMEDx training. Sign up for one of our wilderness first aid courses !
