On Instagram, TikTok or Facebook, the videos are unanimous: there is a “home” technique that directly relieves intense heatstroke, which has been particularly dreadful in recent days. And this would act in a few minutes using a glass of water placed on the skull. Should we try it?
Water to evaporate the heat?
In all the videos, the same technique: simply fill a glass with cool water, on which you place a cloth or napkin, held or not by an elastic band. Then we apply the glass, head down, to the skull and slide it in circular movements over the entire scalp.
According to fans of this method, small bubbles then appear in the glass, a sign that the heat accumulated in the body is in the process of being evacuated.
The operation continues until the bubbles disappear. Many Internet users say they feel almost immediate relief. But is this method really effective?
“It’s not totally stupid, but it’s not a treatment“
For Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician and medical director of True Medical, this tip is not devoid of any interest, but its effects remain very limited.
“This remedy is not totally stupid in the sense that it can provide a feeling of freshness and therefore subjective relief, but it does not treat sunstroke and does not have solid proof of its own effectiveness,” he explains.
In reality, the observed benefit would mainly come from other factors associated with this practice.
“In practice, the real benefit comes mainly from the fact that we stop, put ourselves in the shade and start to cool off, not from the glass placed on the head,” specifies the emergency doctor.
Why this technique can give a feeling of well-being
Applying cool water to the head can actually help reduce the feeling of discomfort.
“The local cold and the evaporation of water can give an impression of well-being, a bit like a damp compress on the forehead or the back of the neck”, recalls Dr. Kierzek.
Combined with other simple measures, this cooling sensation can be helpful in cases of mild heat-related discomfort.
“If the person also drinks cool water and sits quietly, these measures are a step in the right direction for a mild form of heat illness. But it is not a treatment for heatstroke alone.”insists the specialist.
The main risk: missing out on real heat stroke
Although this technique seems harmless, it nevertheless presents a risk: that of delaying the implementation of truly effective actions.
“The glass of water on the head technique does not actually reliably lower core body temperature”warns Dr. Kierzek.
Above all, it can give a false sense of security when heat stroke constitutes a potentially serious medical emergency.
“The problem is above all the risk of trivializing potentially serious symptoms, while a real heat stroke may require urgent treatment”he adds.
What are the right actions in case of sunstroke?
When faced with a person suffering from heat-related illness, several reflexes must be adopted quickly:
- Place the person in the shade, in a cool or air-conditioned place;
- Remove or loosen clothing if necessary;
- Apply cool water to the body using damp cloths;
- Use a fan or fan the person to encourage evaporation;
- Have the person drink fresh water regularly if the person is conscious and can swallow normally.
Finally, certain signs should lead to immediately calling 15: vomiting, confusion, significant drowsiness, impaired consciousness, very high body temperature or even the absence of sweating.
Because while social media tips can sometimes provide slight relief, they never replace the actions recommended by health professionals.