Post by Mr. Pooka on Jul 24, 2016 16:45:47 GMT -5
So... something odd happened to me a couple of days ago (timed with my extra quietness in the threads) that I just want to share to make sure that everyone who has been enduring this crazy heat might learn from my own stupid. ..how a series of small things can send you to the hospital or worse... I also figured I'd post it here because suggesting drinking water and wearing a hat might be PI's definition of 'medical advice', (-8
So the other day Pooka took some time to ourselves to do a bit of fishing and a bit turned into more and more because the day was beautiful, the nature was amazing and fish were biting. When we were getting ready to go I kneeled down to clean some fish but when I stood up I suddenly (like really suddenly, say 15 seconds) went from super happy and fine to extremely nauseous. I wasn't thinking about my surroundings and got completely confused and disoriented and sat on a nearby rock for some air. Pooka came to check on me and that was the last thing I remembered before I passed out. The next thing I remember was Pooka frantically calling to me and waking me up because I had fainted and completely blacked out for about 30 seconds, falling off of the rock in the process. Now I woke up confused for a few seconds but then I felt mostly fine. I've never fainted or passed out in my life and it was a terrifying experience for myself and of course Pooka who was stuck with me in the middle of nowhere with no cellphone and only a couple of days of my driving lessons with me unconscious down a hill. So luckily I simply woke up and felt fine. We packed up and drove to the hospital to get me checked out. Now I haven't had a doctor in over 20 years and haven't gone to the hospital in about as many years mostly because of being stubborn but this scared me right there. It ended up being nothing much but it could have been so much worse!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_syncope
The actual fainting is not terribly uncommon apparently but could have lead to worse conditions like a heat stroke or even hitting my head on the rock I sat on and I feel lucky to be here typing with no other symptoms or affects other then an acute awareness to the heat and an extremely strong reminder to follow everyday common sense.
Yesterday I read an article on the weather website I check for rain and it had a link to an article about how 45 is the new 40 (Celsius here in Canada) and we have been regularly getting some nearly record heat and humidity up here and I absolutely should have known better. I had everything I needed and should have used to prevent this type of thing from happening but I just didn't think about it.
Here's a list of my mistakes so you don't make them yourselves!
- I wasn't wearing a hat. It was cloudy when we got there and it never occurred to me to put mine one even when the sun came out and stayed. Even though I keep at least two in the van which was 25 steps away and would have reminded anyone else to actually wear.
- I didn't eat all day. I had some toast for a late breakfast but I never felt hungry and didn't think about food all day. I went nearly 10 hours without anything to eat and had snacks in the van just for days like this... but the heat can make you not feel hungry or thirsty.
- I barely drank any water. I always carry water with me in the bush and usually drink frequently! I just feels like something your body will remind you of, but again the heat and humidity sometimes plays tricks on you and overrides your instincts. I had tons of water to drink with me, it just never occurred to me to do it and I never craved it.
- I wasn't wearing any sunscreen. ...and I rarely do. I have a slightly naturally darker skin from my aboriginal background and I usually only get one sunburn a year and then I just sort of bronze. ...but I haven't been out hardly at all this year and the sun was relentless and I should have taken the precaution! I actually didn't get much of a burn but this is just another factor that combines with all of my bad decisions that sent me to the hospital.
- Lastly I was not aware of the warning signs and had I known what was coming I could have possibly prevented the fainting all together or in the worst case, lay down in a safer position if there was no stopping it. There are a few positions you can take that can help prevent fainting and sitting on a hard rock surrounded by other rocks was not even close to the best thing for me to do. I do have current first aid training but this was never covered!
So, you might read this and think 'boy that was stupid' Mr. Pooka and you are absolutely right and hopefully better prepared for the heat than I was! If you read this and saw a couple of similarities that hopefully you remember my stupid, put on a hat, some sunscreen and drink some water! Either way just take care of yourself this summer wherever you are!
So the other day Pooka took some time to ourselves to do a bit of fishing and a bit turned into more and more because the day was beautiful, the nature was amazing and fish were biting. When we were getting ready to go I kneeled down to clean some fish but when I stood up I suddenly (like really suddenly, say 15 seconds) went from super happy and fine to extremely nauseous. I wasn't thinking about my surroundings and got completely confused and disoriented and sat on a nearby rock for some air. Pooka came to check on me and that was the last thing I remembered before I passed out. The next thing I remember was Pooka frantically calling to me and waking me up because I had fainted and completely blacked out for about 30 seconds, falling off of the rock in the process. Now I woke up confused for a few seconds but then I felt mostly fine. I've never fainted or passed out in my life and it was a terrifying experience for myself and of course Pooka who was stuck with me in the middle of nowhere with no cellphone and only a couple of days of my driving lessons with me unconscious down a hill. So luckily I simply woke up and felt fine. We packed up and drove to the hospital to get me checked out. Now I haven't had a doctor in over 20 years and haven't gone to the hospital in about as many years mostly because of being stubborn but this scared me right there. It ended up being nothing much but it could have been so much worse!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_syncope
The actual fainting is not terribly uncommon apparently but could have lead to worse conditions like a heat stroke or even hitting my head on the rock I sat on and I feel lucky to be here typing with no other symptoms or affects other then an acute awareness to the heat and an extremely strong reminder to follow everyday common sense.
Yesterday I read an article on the weather website I check for rain and it had a link to an article about how 45 is the new 40 (Celsius here in Canada) and we have been regularly getting some nearly record heat and humidity up here and I absolutely should have known better. I had everything I needed and should have used to prevent this type of thing from happening but I just didn't think about it.
Here's a list of my mistakes so you don't make them yourselves!
- I wasn't wearing a hat. It was cloudy when we got there and it never occurred to me to put mine one even when the sun came out and stayed. Even though I keep at least two in the van which was 25 steps away and would have reminded anyone else to actually wear.
- I didn't eat all day. I had some toast for a late breakfast but I never felt hungry and didn't think about food all day. I went nearly 10 hours without anything to eat and had snacks in the van just for days like this... but the heat can make you not feel hungry or thirsty.
- I barely drank any water. I always carry water with me in the bush and usually drink frequently! I just feels like something your body will remind you of, but again the heat and humidity sometimes plays tricks on you and overrides your instincts. I had tons of water to drink with me, it just never occurred to me to do it and I never craved it.
- I wasn't wearing any sunscreen. ...and I rarely do. I have a slightly naturally darker skin from my aboriginal background and I usually only get one sunburn a year and then I just sort of bronze. ...but I haven't been out hardly at all this year and the sun was relentless and I should have taken the precaution! I actually didn't get much of a burn but this is just another factor that combines with all of my bad decisions that sent me to the hospital.
- Lastly I was not aware of the warning signs and had I known what was coming I could have possibly prevented the fainting all together or in the worst case, lay down in a safer position if there was no stopping it. There are a few positions you can take that can help prevent fainting and sitting on a hard rock surrounded by other rocks was not even close to the best thing for me to do. I do have current first aid training but this was never covered!
So, you might read this and think 'boy that was stupid' Mr. Pooka and you are absolutely right and hopefully better prepared for the heat than I was! If you read this and saw a couple of similarities that hopefully you remember my stupid, put on a hat, some sunscreen and drink some water! Either way just take care of yourself this summer wherever you are!
