Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke Emergencies
How to Treat Hyperthermia and Where to Go When the Weather is Hot
Jun 26, 2009
As temperatures during the summer months climb above the hundred degree mark in the United States and other parts of the world, tourists and residents alike are encouraged to heed warnings and take refuge from the heat. Heat cramps and heat exhaustion require immediate attention to the victim. Heat stroke is a medical emergency that demands immediate intervention from qualified medical personnel.
Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion
Fatigue and cramping are usually the first signs of overheating. Ignoring the signs can lead to symptoms of heat exhaustion:
- Skin that's red and very hot to the touch
- Excessive sweating
- Lightheaded feeling, dizziness, feeling faint
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pounding in the head or headache
Symptoms of Heat Stroke
Heat conditions commonly occur outdoors from overexertion in hot weather, but poor housing conditions contribute to heat related deaths, as well. Symptoms of heat stroke:
- Skin that's very hot to the touch and may be dry. Color is usually pale.
- Disorientation or confusion
- Rapid pulse
- Difficulty breathing
- Seizures
- Coma
Heat stroke can result in death. It’s important to know that hyperthermia does not have to go through “stages” before it becomes serious. A person can become dangerously overheated in a matter of minutes and with little to no warning, especially one who has a medical condition. Also at high risk for heat-related ailments are the elderly, infants, and children. Victims may display the symptoms of heat stroke without complaining first of lesser symptoms associated with heat cramps and heat exhaustion.
What to Do for Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke Victims
The skin helps to regulate body temperature. When heat builds up in the body, sweat glands produce sweat which evaporates and cools the skin. When the body begins to overheat, blood vessels expand, bringing more blood to the skin's surface where heat is lost. However, when the body cannot cool down due to extreme heat and humidity, the situation becomes dangerous and life-threatening.
If you or someone else is experiencing symptoms of heat exhaustion:
- Get to a shaded or air-conditioned area.
- Cool the body with water and ice as rapidly as possible.
- Monitor skin color, skin temperature, and the victim's condition.
If someone shows symptoms of heat stroke:
- Get the victim to a cool or shaded area.
- Call emergency services immediately.
- Cool the victim's body with water and ice. The Web site, MedicineNet.com, posts information in the article, "Heat Stroke: How Do You Treat a Heat Stroke Victim" and states, "Get the victim to a shady area, remove clothing, apply cool or tepid water to the skin (for example you may spray the victim with cool water from a garden hose), fan the victim to promote sweating and evaporation, and place ice packs under armpits and groins."
- Monitor temperature (or feel skin temperature), skin color, and the victim's condition until emergency medical help arrives.
The NOAH (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Web site features the article, “Heat Wave – a Major Summer Killer” and reports the following statistics: “Heat is the number one weather-related killer. On average, more than 1,500 people in the U.S. die each year from excessive heat. This number is greater than the 30-year mean annual number of deaths due to tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and lightning combined.”
Where is it Safe to Go When the Weather is Hot?
Most people head indoors when the weather gets too hot; however, some residents may not have the luxury of air conditioning in the home. Anyone can experience heat stroke symptoms when the body becomes overheated and cannot sufficiently cool through normal means of perspiration. So where does one go to stay cool when the temperature gets too hot?
- Public library
- Museum
- Mall
- Community Center
- Water park
- Movie theater
- Lake or shaded beach (Avoid sunburn)
- Indoor flea market
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are dangerous hyperthermia conditions that require immediate attention. Symptoms for heat exhaustion can usually be managed with swift treatment to cool down the body, but heat stroke is a medical emergency.
Some people do not have the benefit of air conditioning in the home and must travel to a public building or mall to take refuge from extreme heat. Learn to recognize heat stress before it escalates to a crisis situation. Knowing what to do in a heat stroke emergency may save a life.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
