Heat Exhaustion & Heatstroke

The Center for Life EnrichmentQuality Assurance

2013

Heat ExhaustionSection 1

Heat exhaustion is a heat-related illness that can occur after you’ve been exposed to high temperatures for a period of time and have become dehydrated

Heat exhaustion is one of three heat-related syndromes, with heat cramps being the mildest and heatstroke being the most severe

Heat Exhaustion

Causes of heat exhaustion include exposure to high temperatures, particularly when combined with high humidity and strenuous physical activity

Without prompt treatment, heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke, a life-threatening condition

Heat exhaustion and heatstroke are preventable!

Causes of Heat-Related Illnesses

Heat exhaustion is strongly related to the heat index The risk of heat-related illness dramatically increases when the

heat index climbs to 91 F or higher It’s extremely important, especially during heat waves, to pay

attention to the reported heat index Remember that the heat index is even higher when you are

standing in full sun If you live in an urban area, you may be especially prone to

develop heat exhaustion during a prolonged heat wave; asphalt and concrete store heat during the day and only gradually release it at night, resulting in higher nighttime temperatures

Risk Factors for Heat Exhaustion

Heat Index

The heat index is given in degrees Fahrenheit

The heat index is a measure of how hot it really feels when relative humidity is factored in with the actual air temperature

When the humidity is high, your sweat can’t evaporate as easily, and your body has more difficulty cooling itself, making you prone to heat exhaustion and heatstroke

When the heat index is 91 F or higher, you should take precautions to keep cool

Age: Infants and children up to age 4, and adults over age 65, are particularly vulnerable because they adjust to heat more slowly than other people

Certain Health Conditions: Including heart, lung, or kidney disease, obesity or underweight, high blood pressure, diabetes, mental illness, sickle cell trait, alcoholism, sunburn, and any conditions that cause fever

Medications: Including diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers, stimulants, some heart and blood pressure medications, and medications for psychiatric conditions

Check with your doctor to see if your health conditions and medications are likely to affect your ability to cope with extreme heat and humidity

Other Risk Factors

The most common signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include: Confusion Dark-colored urine (a sign of dehydration) Dizziness Fainting Fatigue Headache Muscle cramps Nausea Pale Skin Cool, moist skin with goose bumps when in the heat Excessive sweating Weak or rapid heartbeat Low blood pressure upon standing

Signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion may develop suddenly, or over time, especially with prolonged periods of exercise/physical activity

Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion

If you think a person may be experiencing heat exhaustion: Immediately get out of the heat and rest, preferably in an air-

conditioned room If you cannot get inside, try to find the nearest cool and shady

place Drink plenty of fluids (avoid caffeine and alcohol) Remove any tight or unnecessary clothing Take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath Apply other cooling measures such as fans or ice towels

If such measures fail to provide relief within 30 minutes, contact your doctor

Treatment of Heat Exhaustion

After you’ve recovered from heat exhaustion, you may be more sensitive to high temperatures during the following week

It’s best to avoid hot weather and heavy exercise until your doctor tells you that it’s safe to resume your normal activities

Take Precautions

HeatstrokeSection 2

Heatstroke is caused by prolonged exposure to high temperatures or by doing physical activity in hot weather

You are considered to have heatstroke when your body temperature reaches 104 F or higher

Heatstroke is the most serious form of heat injury and is a medical emergency

A possible complication of heatstroke is shock, which is a condition caused by a sudden loss of blood flow Signs of shock include a very low blood pressure, blue lips and

nails, and cool, clammy skin Heatstroke can kill or cause damage to the brain and other

internal organs

Heatstroke

Exposure to a hot environment Strenuous activity Wearing excessive clothing Drinking alcohol Becoming dehydrated

Causes of Heatstroke

Anyone can develop heatstroke, but several factors place you at increased risk: Age: Infants and children up to age 4, and adults over age 65, are

particularly vulnerable because they adjust to heat more slowly than other people

Health Conditions: Including heart, lung, or kidney disease, obesity or underweight, high blood pressure, diabetes, mental illness, sickle cell trait, alcoholism, sunburn, and any conditions that cause fever

Medications: Including antihistamines, diet pills, diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers, stimulants, seizure medications, heart and blood pressure medications, and medications for psychiatric illnesses

Risk Factors

A body temperature of 104 F or higher is the main sign of heatstroke Fainting Throbbing headache Dizziness and light-headedness Lack of sweating despite the heat Red, hot, and dry skin Muscle weakness or cramps Nausea and vomiting Rapid heartbeat, which may be either strong or weak Rapid, shallow breathing Behavioral changes such as confusion, disorientation, or staggering Seizures Unconsciousness

Symptoms of Heatstroke

If you think a person may be experiencing heatstroke, seek immediate medical help

Call 911 Take immediate action to cool the overheated person while

waiting for emergency treatment Help the person move to a shaded location and remove

excess clothing Place ice packs or cold, wet towels on the person’s head,

neck, armpits, and groin Mist the person with water while a fan is blowing on him or

her

Treatment of Heatstroke

Preventing Heat-Related Illnesses

Section 3

When the heat index is high, it’s best to stay inside in air conditioning

If you must go outdoors, you can prevent heat exhaustion by taking these steps: Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting

clothing, and a wide-brimmed hat Avoid sunburn; use a sunscreen with an SPF of

30 or higher. Having a sunburn reduces your body’s ability to rid itself of heat

Preventing Heat-Related Illnesses

To prevent dehydration, it’s generally recommended to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day. Because heat-related illness also can result from salt depletion, it may be advisable to substitute an electrolyte-rich sports drink for water during periods of extreme heat and humidity

Take additional precautions when working outdoors or doing physical activity/exercise. The general recommendation is to drink 24 ounces of fluid two hours before exercise, and consider adding another 8 ounces of water or sports drink right before exercise

During exercise, you should consume another 8 ounces of water every 20 minutes even if you don’t feel thirsty

Avoid fluids containing either caffeine or alcohol, because both substances can make you lose more fluids and worsen heat exhaustion

If you have epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease; are on fluid-restricted diets; or have a problem with fluid retention, check with your doctor before increasing liquid intake

Preventing Heat-Related Illnesses: Drink Extra Fluids

On a hot day, the temperature in your parked car can rise 20 F in just 10 minutes!

Let your car cool down before you drive it Never leave anyone in a parked car in hot

weather for any period of time In slide show mode, click the link below or copy &

paste the link in your web browser to view the video: “So how hot is it in your car?” http://

youtu.be/SSnxFea-_eA

The Dangers of Heat in a Parked Car

www.webmd.com www.mayoclinic.com www.nws.noaa.gov www.youtube.com

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