Immediate treatment must be given to reduce the body temperature, or brain damage and death may occur. The patient should be undressed and placed in a tub of cold (around 20 °C) water; or covered with continuous cold packs such as wet blankets; or sponged with cold water until the temperature drops. The temperature should be taken every 10 minutes and not allowed to fall below 38.5 °C. The skin should be massaged during this procedure to prevent constriction of the blood vessels, to stimulate return of the cooled blood to the overheated brain and other areas, and to speed up the heat loss. After the body temperature has dropped, the patient should be placed in bed in a cool room with a fan or air-conditioner blowing towards the bed. If the body temperature starts to rise, it will be necessary to begin the cooling procedure again. Do notgive the patient morphine sulfate, epinephrine, or stimulants. Sedatives (Phenobarbital) are given only if convulsionsoccur, to control them. The patient should be kept in bed for several days and cautioned against later exposure to heat.
I. Read and translate the text.
II. Remember how to prevent heat stroke