Visitors to Africa often like to enjoy the sunshine, bathing themselves in it until they are burned to a crisp! The sun emits dangerous and harmful rays, not to mention a lot of heat, and sensible precautions should be taken against this.
Sun Burn
This is the most common form of sun related injury. It is usually due to people either not wearing a strong enough cream, or staying in the sun for too long. Or both!
Always remember to wear plenty of cream and use a cream with a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor). The SPF number does not indicate how long you can stay in the sun for. It represents the amount of protection the cream gives you compared to the natural protection of your skin. For example, an SPF factor of 10, will give you 10 times the natural protection of your skin. So wearing a higher factor does not mean you won’t get a tan, but it may just prevent you from getting burnt! If you have sensitive skin, wear a higher factor cream. Most specialists recommend using a minimum of SPF 15, preferably higher.
Heat Stroke
Heat stroke, or ‘sun stroke’, is far more serious than sun burn and can even be fatal. It usually happens when you have been over exposed to the sun, particularly in humid conditions. It occurs when the body overheats and can no longer release enough heat to cool down, and the body core starts to heat up. Symptoms of heat stroke are fever-like chills and a headache.
Heat stoke is very unpleasant and the victim should get indoors or into the shade immediately and try to cool down. Do not plunge yourself into cold water. Have a cold drink, dab yourself with a damp cloth, relax and stay away from the sun. Sprinkling water over the skin and fanning it is a very effective solution.
In serious cases of heat stroke, the victim experiences a severe fever-like reaction, drowsiness, slurring speech and in the worst cases, coma. They should be taken indoors and dowsed in cool, damp blankets or cloths. Never plunge a person with heat stroke into cold water. The heat must be drawn out from the body gradually by cooling the skin, allowing the blood to flow away from the central core. If you plunge a person into cold water, all the blood will rush to the core to keep the body warm, causing further overheating and death. In any cases of heat stroke, seek immediate medical attention.
Dehydration
Dehydration is increased by hot weather and can become very serious if not treated early. The body usually becomes dehydrated before you experience any symptoms. Early symptoms include headaches, fatigue and yellow urine. At this stage, drink some water, a little at a time. If you have been sweating a lot, put a pinch of salt into a large glass of water and drink this. Salt helps the body to absorb water, and when you have been sweating a lot, you lose your body salt and the ability to absorb water effectively. When dehydrated, avoid alcohol or food, unless the food is taken for the purpose of salt intake.
In more serious cases of dehydration, the victim will become drowsy, disorientated, confused and can even experience hallucinations. In these instances, the victim should be taken to hospital immediately. In the interim, they should drink only small sips of water, little by little, until they start to recover.
Optical Glare
The glare from the sun can cause damage to the eyes, and constant exposure to bright sunlight can cause headaches. The best solution is to wear sunglasses! When out in the bush, a cap or sun hat should also be worn, to shade the forehead and eyes, preventing sun stroke and protecting the eyes from the worst of the glare.
