It is summertime, and the weather is getting hotter and hotter, here in Taiwan the temperature can often rise as high as 30 some degrees C in summer, people who are not used to scorching and humid weather may suffer from a heat stroke when engaged in activities under the heat outdoors.
Long hours of exposure in a humid and hot environment will bring about a rise in body temperature, such that body’s temperature adjustment function is gravely impaired, to the extent of frustrating the hidrosis function. In the beginning the patient will feel the ambient heat intolerable, headache, vomiting, anergia, hyperthermia (often exceeding 40 degrees C), skin reddening but dry, devoid of hidrosis followed, what happened in suit is loss of consciousness, vertigo and feebleness, photophobia, nausea compounded with vomiting, BP downgrading, accelerated but weakened pulses, semi-swooning with aggravated cases, this is an emergent situation that really endangers the life, with lethal rates coming in the order of 20~70%. The keypoint for first aid lies with immediate lowering of body temperature, by whatever means presently available and practicable:

1. Promptly relocate the patient to a cool and well-ventilated place, lay the head low;
2. Relieve him of his burden, loosen his clothing, splash bodywise with cool water (or rub with ice cubes in lieu of bath) until the patient resumes consciousness)
3. When a water bath the employed instead, fill a tub with tepid water by half level, dip in a towel to wet it or using a sponge, apply same in light wipe bodywise till the body temperature is lowered, meanwhile apply vehement massage over all the four limbs to prevent stagnation of capillary circulation and to speed up diffusion of body heat at the same time.
4. If the patient appears to be suffering from short breathing, apply artificial respiration forthwith;
5. Supplement water (oral supply is permitted only if the patient wakes up, failing that intravenous injection is to be implemented).
6. Send for a doctor and have the patient treated ASAP, take body temperature reading every 10 minutes, note that body temperature shall not drop below 30 degree C all of a sudden. If the body temperature rises, apply the emergency temperature lowering procedure repeatedly, don’t give the patient any stimulant item or hot drink, and proceed to prevent convulsion lest vomitus should be incurred which could confound the situation if swallowed down the throat.

Extent of injury to physical tissue is related to the duration of exposure to high temperature condition, treatment done the sooner will bring down body temperature the sooner and damage to the body is relatively smaller.
A good way to prevent heat stroke is to proceed with gradual drill when doing sports, supplement adequate water in time, and wear loose garments. When doing sports remember to put on light, easy-going, loose-set and aerated light colored clothing. Those who take a liking for outdoor activities are advised to start doing exercises or engaging in sports before 8 am or after 6 pm, or they may just as well stay indoors to do same, remember never to engage in physical activities under scorching sunshine between 11 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. When doing sports indoors make sure that the air-conditioner is turned on, or electric fan will start rotating to help boost air circulation.
Those who have made it habit going for sports must drink 1.5~2.0L of water everyday, if feasible, supplement where appropriate sports drinks or fruit juice.
While on a stadium or sports field, should you see a peer or buddy looking pale, on the verge of fainting, or giving signs of vomiting or nausea, send him to a nearby hospital for help immediately, lest more serious outcome would ensue.