In the Emergency Department - Central Tropical Diseases Hospital, doctors have just received patient N.V.D (21 years old, from Hung Yen), a delivery worker, in a state of multiple injuries after a traffic accident occurred amidst intense heat.
At noon on May 24, 2026, while moving outdoors to deliver goods, the patient suddenly developed symptoms of dizziness, blurred vision, and dizziness. Losing control of the steering wheel, he crashed into the rear of the car in front. After the accident, the patient was still awake but very tired, nauseous, accompanied by deformed injuries to the thigh and right foot.
MSc.BSNT Pham Thanh Bang, Department of Emergency Medicine, said that the patient was diagnosed with heatstroke, sunstroke accompanied by trauma due to loss of self-control when body temperature increased. Immediately upon admission, the emergency team applied a heat shock treatment regimen including cooling the body, removing clothes, intravenous fluids and putting it in a cool air-conditioned environment.
After about 30 minutes, the dizziness and lightheadedness improved significantly, and the patient became more awake. The injuries to the thigh and right foot were fixed and transferred to a Surgical Department for further treatment.
According to Dr. Bang, heatstroke and sunstroke are common emergency conditions in the summer, occurring when the body does not have time to regulate body temperature in a prolonged high-temperature environment. Patients may experience fatigue, sweating, dizziness, nausea, rapid heartbeat, and even conscious disorders.
Patient D's case is typical of increased body temperature when having to work continuously outdoors. For workers such as shippers, workers, drivers..., just a moment of distraction due to heatstroke can lead to traffic accidents or serious labor accidents.
In many cases, if not treated promptly, the condition can progress severely, causing low blood pressure, neurological disorders, convulsions, and coma," Dr. Bang warned.
The golden time for emergency treatment for heatstroke is about the first hour. If not cooled and treated promptly, the risk of neurological complications will increase.
Doctors recommend that when a person is found to have a heatstroke, they should be quickly taken to a shady place or air-conditioned room, loosen clothes, apply cool compresses to the neck, armpits, groin and supplement with water or electrolytes if they are still awake. Do not cool down suddenly because it can affect the process of regulating body temperature.
In case the patient has severe symptoms such as drowsiness, agitation, convulsions or loss of consciousness, it is necessary to immediately take them to the nearest medical facility for emergency treatment.
High-risk groups include young children, the elderly and high-intensity outdoor workers. Doctors recommend drinking water regularly, wearing hats, wearing light-colored clothes, taking periodic breaks and avoiding continuous work in the harsh sun.
In particular, do not leave children or others in the car parked outdoors in the sun, as the temperature in the car can rise to a dangerous level in a short time.
