The City of Ward’s
emergency medical services are provided by Allied Ambulance Service.
Allied Ambulance Service provides Advanced Life Support
(Paramedic) care. We pride ourselves on
our professionalism, training, experience, and “bed-side manner”.
Our management team has over 25 years each of E.M.S.
experience and we truly do care about the people we serve. Our
sincere goal is not to be the biggest E.M.S. provider; just the best.
We proudly serve the citizens of
Ward and surrounding communities in North Lonoke County.
From our Ward location, we provide services to the City of
Austin, Ward Fire District, Austin Fire District, CS&Z Fire District,
and Mt. Springs Fire District.
We are pleased to offer
membership benefits for families and individuals.
Membership inquires can be forwarded to the location or
e-mail address above. Dehydration and
Heat Stroke
The danger of
dehydration and heat stroke:
Dehydration and heat stroke are two very common heat-related diseases that can be
life-threatening if left untreated.
What is dehydration?
Dehydration can be a serious heat-related disease, as well as being a dangerous
side-effect of diarrhea, vomiting and fever. Children and persons over
the age of 60 are particularly susceptible to dehydration.
What causes dehydration?
Under normal conditions, we all lose body water daily through sweat, tears,
urine and stool. In a healthy person, this water is replaced by drinking
fluids and eating foods that contain water. When a person becomes so
sick with fever, diarrhea, or vomiting or if an individual is
overexposed to the sun, dehydration occurs. This is caused when the body
loses water content and essential body salts such as sodium, potassium,
calcium bicarbonate and phosphate.
Occasionally, dehydration can be caused by drugs, such as diuretics, which deplete
body fluids and electrolytes. Whatever the cause, dehydration should be
treated as soon as possible.
What are the symptoms of dehydration?
The following are the most common symptoms of dehydration, although each
individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
thirst
less-frequent urination
dry skin
fatigue
light-headedness
dizziness
confusion
dry mouth and mucous membranes
increased heart rate and breathing
In children, additional symptoms may include:no tears when crying
dry mouth and tongue
no wet diapers for more than 3 hours
sunken abdomen, eyes or cheeks
high fever
listlessness
irritability
skin that does not flatten when pinched and
released
Treatment for dehydration:
If caught early, dehydration can often be treated at home under a
physician's guidance. In children, directions for giving food and fluids
will differ according to the cause of the dehydration, so it is
important to consult your pediatrician.
In cases of mild dehydration, simple rehydration is recommended by drinking fluids. Many
sports drinks on the market effectively restore body fluids,
electrolytes, and salt balance.
For moderate dehydration, intravenous fluids may be required, although if caught
early enough, simple rehydration may be effective. Cases of serious
dehydration should be treated as a medical emergency, and
hospitalization, along with intravenous fluids, is necessary. Immediate
action should be taken.
How can dehydration be prevented?
Take precautionary measures to avoid the harmful effects of dehydration,
including:
Drink plenty of fluids, especially when
working or playing in the sun.
Make sure you are taking in more fluid than
you are losing.
Try to schedule physical outdoor activities
for the cooler parts of the day.
Drink appropriate sports drinks to help
maintain electrolyte balance.
For infants and young children, solutions
like Pedialyte will help maintain electrolyte balance during illness
or heat exposure. Do not try to make fluid and salt solutions at home
for children.
What is heat stroke?
Heat stroke is the most severe form of heat illness and is a life-threatening
emergency. It is the result of long, extreme exposure to the sun, in
which a person does not sweat enough to lower body temperature. The
elderly, infants, persons who work outdoors and those on certain types
of medications are most susceptible to heat stroke. It is a condition
that develops rapidly and requires immediate medical treatment.
What causes heat stroke?
Our bodies produce a tremendous amount of internal heat and we normally cool
ourselves by sweating and radiating heat through the skin. However, in
certain circumstances, such as extreme heat, high humidity or vigorous
activity in the hot sun, this cooling system may begin to fail, allowing
heat to build up to dangerous levels.
If a person becomes dehydrated and can not sweat enough to cool their body, their internal
temperature may rise to dangerously high levels, causing heat stroke.
What are the symptoms of heat stroke?
The following are the most common symptoms of heat stroke, although each
individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
headache
dizziness
disorientation, agitation or confusion
sluggishness or fatigue
seizure
hot, dry skin that is flushed but not sweaty
a high body temperature
loss of consciousness
rapid heart beat
hallucinations
How is heat stroke treated?
It is important for the person to be treated immediately as heat stroke can
cause permanent damage or death. There are some immediate first aid
measures you can take while waiting for help to arrive.
Get the person indoors.
Remove clothing and gently apply cool water
to the skin followed by fanning to stimulate sweating.
Apply ice packs to the groin and armpits.
Have the person lie down in a cool area with
their feet slightly elevated
Intravenous fluids are often necessary to compensate for fluid or electrolyte loss. Bed rest is
generally advised and body temperature may fluctuate abnormally for
weeks after heat stroke.
How can heat stroke be prevented?
There are precautions that can help protect you against the adverse effects of
heat stroke. These include:
Drink plenty of fluids during outdoor
activities, especially on hot days. Water and sports drinks are the
drinks of choice; avoid tea, coffee, soda and alcohol as these can
lead to dehydration.
Wear lightweight, tightly woven,
loose-fitting clothing in light colors.
Schedule vigorous activity and sports for
cooler times of the day.
Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a
hat, sunglasses and using an umbrella.
Increase time spent outdoors gradually to
get your body used to the heat.
During outdoor activities, take frequent
drink breaks and mist yourself with a spray bottle to avoid becoming
overheated.
Try to spend as much time indoors as
possible on very hot and humid days.
If you live in a hot climate and have a chronic condition, talk to your physician about extra precautions you can take to protect yourself against heat stroke.
No health impacts are expected when air quality is in this range.
Moderate
Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy
Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
Very Unhealthy
Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid all outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit outdoor exertion.
Good
Moderate
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Unhealthy
Very Unhealthy