EFFECTS OF HEAT AND COLD

EFFECTS OF HEAT AND COLD

The human body is designed to work beat at, or close to, at temperature of 370C. To maintain this temperature, the body possesses mechanisms that generate and conserve heat when the environment is cold, and conversely, that lose heat when it is hot. These mechanisms are controlled by a special centre in the brain. In addition, man controls his environment to some degree through the clothing, and air conditioning. These make it easier for the body to perform well in a wide range of temperature. In spite of all this, excessive heat or cold can cause injury and, in extreme case, serious or even fatal conditions. The dangers of extreme temperatures

The danger of extreme temperatures

The harmful effects of extreme heat or cold can be localized, as in the case of suborn, frostbite, or trench foot; or generalized, or with heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and hypothermia. The generalized effects of extremes of temperature tend to be more marked in the very young and the very old, whose temperature regulation systems can respectively , be under developed or impaired. THE FIRST 

AIDER SHOULD:

• Remove normal body temperature, if the condition hot or cold surroundings

• Restore normal body temperature, if the condition was rapid in onset ( for example: heatstroke), reverse it rapidly; if it has developed slowly (for example: hypothermia of slow onset affecting an elderly people), the casualty’s body temperature must be brought gradually back to normal.

• Obtain appropriate medical attention.