Has anyone ever died from....

[mummycloud]

Sun stroke? I know you can die from heat exhaustion, but what about from severe sun burn?
My 14 year old DD went against all she was taught on Sun smart and she cut school to go to the local swimming hole, without a hat or sun cream :mad:
She come home looking like a lobster. I've never seen such terrible sunburn in my whole life :eek: the soles of her feet would be the only parts of her entire body that isn't burning red :( She's had a cool shower, soaked in a cool bath, used sorbolene cream, drank water, put an ice pack against her skin and she still feels terrible. She has a head ache and feels like she has the flu. I've given her Panadol, but she's still feeling really bad. I'm not sure what else I should do. I'm tempted to take her to the hospital, but I don't know if they can help her either :confused:
Any advise would be appreciated.

Cheers!

[tickle]

From what I know sun stroke can be very dangerous. Especially if her temp is up, she has severe burn and she is dehydrated. Make sure she drinks HEAPS of water. And I find aloevera gel works really well and is really soothing.
Sorry I can't give any better advice, I'm sure someone on here knows heaps about it.
Hope she feels better soon. :(
E :)

[tickle]

Ok I just did a quick google search and they say it can be life threatening. If you are worried I would take her to the hospital.
I would put up a link but there wasn't much extra info on there. Sorry. :o
Good luck

[Nickster]

Mummycloud, your poor DD! I think we've all been there - too long in the sun and the overconfidence of youth buoying you along!
I think I would always err on the side of being overcautious and take her to the hospital. At worst it may be a waste of time. At best it may give you peace of mind. I hope she is feeling better soon, and like Happy Lady, can definitely recommend Aloe Vera gel for easing sunburn. :)

[mummycloud]

Thanks guys!!

Now, I wonder if she will LET me take her :rolleyes: she's pretty sick so I don't think she could put up much of a fight ;)

[mummycloud]

How bizarre :eek: I just took her temp and it's 36.5 she feels so hot to touch though. She's practically naked and the air con is on so that may be why.

I can't get her to go to the hospital and she's taken herself to bed. I guess i will do the house wok while everyone is asleep. I'll check up on her again in an hour. :(

[aardvark]

If you don't take her to be seen by a doctor, I'd be at the very least pushing the electrolyte replacement drinks.

Something like Gastrolyte or a sports drink. Iso-Sport powder in a tin is quite cheap to make a large volume. Last I knew, it was in the supermarkets with the bottled sports drinks, and much cheaper than buying an equivalent volume made up.

Depending on the severity of the burns, you might find you shouldn't put non-sterile creams on it.

The best cream for burns used to be Silvazin (?spelling), but it was prescription only.

If the burns are not too bad, and sterility is not an issue, chamomile tea which has been cooled should be soothing. Also Eulactol Cream For Very Dry Skin might be of use when she starts peeling - which sounds like the least problem she will have from how you have described it.

[tickle]

It's good her temp isn't up. Hopefully a good night of cooling rest will make her feel better.
Hope she is feeling better soon!!

[razzle]

If she's blistered in any way I'd take her up to the hospital. Blisters can get infected quite easily. I got really badly sunburned when I was a teenager and have never forgotten the pain I was in, your poor DD.

White vinegar, believe it or not, is also good for soothing sunburn pain. Soak a teatowel or facewasher in it and lay it on the skin. It stinks but it does feel nice, especially if the vinegar has been in the fridge! :p

[Rainbowbrite]

I'd make her get checked out, better to be safe than sorry. Also, be careful she doesn't get a chill having the aircon on. Wow I sound like my mum :rolleyes:

Goodluck, keep us posted.
RB

[Baby Girl]

The heat would be coming form her skin rather than her temp being up. The main reason her temp would be up is if she is dehydrated. Make sure she drinks heaps of water or weak cordials. White Vinegar is the best thing to put on her skin to help ease the burning. Turn the air-con off in her room as she won't be able to feel how cold she really is as the sunburn will make her feel hot, IYKWIM. She may still get a chill with the air-con off, I am not sure why but bad sunburn just does that to you.

I hope she is okay. And I hope you are okay too!! Enjoy your housework!!

[mummycloud]

Thanks for your suggestions :)

She went to sleep with the air con off just in her knickers and slept till 4:30am when she had some Panadole.
I made her go to school. If she didn't wag yesterday she wouldn't be sunburnt :mad: Now that she's ok, I'm mad as hell!

[tickle]

Glad she's recovering well!
And I'm glad she's gone to school ;)
Kids huh?? :rolleyes:

[Sarie]

Dr Phill or Oprah did a story a while back on teenage boys playing sport and a couple of them had passed away from sun/heat stroke.

[Sarie]

a bit late again am I,
I'm glad she's feeling better!

[Nickster]

I'm so glad she's okay, mummycloud - now she's just got to survive the wrath of mummy, hey!!!

[Elfin]

I think it was Happy Lady who said it but Aloe Vera gel or the sap straight from the plant if you have one is great for taking the sting out of sunburn. Paw Paw Ointment is very soothing as well.

I hope she gets better soon. Hopefully she won't be wagging again.

[LilShenanigans]

I know Im late in reply, but I've also done this one to myself!
I was about 12 and got severly sunburnt, I think it was a bright purple red and extremely painful!

just for future reference I suppose, it mostly took time to recover. Of course water, and my mum kept putting a tomato on my back... something she grew up with and always helped me out (as long as it had been refridgerated!).
On worse case scenerio we used yoghurt.

The only time I went to the doc was because it had blistered and I got an antibacterial cream to put on the blistered area.

Rest assured that the worse sunburn in someones life will live on forever, I can't forget the consequences of that and have vowed never to be burnt again! (Im as white as a ghost :D )

Also, please please please! When it's all over take your daughter to the doctor to get her moles checked! Nothing may be out of the ordinary just yet, but he checks them and she goes back 6 months down the track, then you can be sure if there's anything amiss!!