Heat Injury

Heat cramps are painful muscle spasms often occurring in the legsor abdomen.?This is the first warning that the body is having trouble handling the heat.?While the exact cause of these cramps is not understood, it is generally agreed that sweating caused by strenuous exercise in a hot environment causes a change in the body’s electrolyte (salt) balance. Dehydration may also contribute to the problem.?

Ok, so what do you do about it?1.Get the victim out of the heat. Have them sit or lie down.
2.Water them!?Give them cool water or an electrolyte- balanced sportsdrink (e.g. Gatorade?). 3.DO NOT give them salt tablets or saltwater. They already have all the salt they need, its just not in the right places.?The body is wonderfully made and will balance itself if it is allowed to rest.
4.It is ok for them to lightly stretch or gently massage the muscle.
5.The victim is free to go back to whatever it is they were doing once the cramps subside,just have them slow it down a bit and keep drinking plenty of fluids.?Heat Exhaustion (a.k.a. heat prostration, heat collapse)i s the most common heat related illness. ?

Fire fighters, construction workers, athletes are especially prone to this sort of heat injury. Why? Let’s discuss sweat for a moment.?Sweat is your body’s built in air conditioner.?You sweat, air hits the sweat, the sweat evaporates, you feel cooler.?Sweat does not evaporate as well when its very humid, or when a person is wearing heavy clothing or exercising hard while in a hot, humid environment.?The person may be sweating like crazy, but if the sweat is not allowed to evaporate then the body is going to keep getting hotter.

Signals of Heat Exhaustion: Skin may feel Cool and clammy or moist, pale, gray, or flushed looking. Headache Nausea Dizziness, Weakness, or Exhaustion??

Treatment1.Get the victim out of the heat
2. Loosen tight clothing and remove sweat-soaked clothing.
3. Apply cool, wet towels or cloths to the skin (use ice packs if necessary)?and fan the victim. (Just thinkof what would cool you off if you were extremely hot and do it for them.)
4. If the victim is conscious, give them cool water to sip, but don’t let them gulp it, which could result in vomiting.?If necessary,?regulate how much water they are given.(Once 4 oz. glass every 15 minutes.)
5.The victim should continue resting and should not resume normal activities the same day.
6.IFthe victim refuses water, vomits, or shows signs of changes in consciousness, the condition is getting worse.?CALL FOR AN AMBULANCE IMMEDIATELY! lets take this one step further.?If you don’t recognize the signs of heat exhaustion or choose to ignore them (or in some unfortunate cases are unable to do anything about them), here is what can happen.

Heat Stroke is not as common as heat exhaustion, but this is the Big Kahuna of heat injuries. When the body is subjected to more heat that it can handle, the core temperature will rise rapidly, causing the body systems to shut down.?This is a serious medical emergency that will result in death if not treated.?

Signals of Heat Stroke: Red, hot, dry skin.?(Remember our little talk about sweat? The heat stroke victim has lost the ability to sweat, which is why the skin will be hot and dry) Changes in consciousness, rapid, weak pulse, rapid,shallow breathing.

Treatment of Heat Stroke: 1.Call for an ambulance immediately!
2. If the victim vomits, position them on their side.?STOP GIVING FLUIDS.
3. Keep the victim lying down.
4. Continue cooling the body using any means necessary.?Place icepacks or cold packs under armpits, on the groin, on the neck, on wrists, and on ankles.?(TIP: Cold cans of soda or beer work wellfor this if you don’t have ice packs.)?
5.DO NOT apply rubbing alcohol. Staying Cool When working or exercising in the heat, listen to your body. ?Drink plenty of fluids, and take more frequent breaks. During a heat wave, moderate your activities, drink plenty of fluids, and dress appropriately.?If you don’t have air conditioning, go somewhere that does.?(Go catch up onyour reading at the library, see a movie, but stay out of the heat!) Often, local agencies such as The Red Cross will set up shelters for folks who need shelter from the heat.?

Be you rbrother’s keeper.?The elderly often fall victim to heat injuries.?If you know an elderly person who doesn’t have airconditioning, check on them and help them get out of the heat.Finally, NEVER leave children or pets unattended in a hotcar for any reason! Children are also very susceptible to heat injury.?Be sure your pet has plenty of cool water in its dish and a cool place to lay down.?