Heat emergencies are health crises caused by exposure to hot weather and sun. Heat emergencies have three stages: heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. All three stages of heat emergency are serious.
Common Medical Conditions Aggravated by Sun and Heat
- Migraines. Migraines are agonizing headaches that can make you nauseous and sensitive to light.
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Respiratory illnesses.
In most cases, you can treat heat exhaustion yourself by doing the following:
- Rest in a cool place. Getting into an air-conditioned building is best, but at the very least, find a shady spot or sit in front of a fan.
- Drink cool fluids. Stick to water or sports drinks.
- Try cooling measures.
- Loosen clothing.
How do you treat an individual with heat syncope?
- Move the person to shaded/cool area to decrease body temperature.
- Sit or lie down as soon as the patient begins to feel symptoms.
- Monitor vital signs to ensure the person does not also acquire another medical condition.
- Elevate legs to promote blood returning to the heart.
Heat exhaustion is a condition whose symptoms may include heavy sweating and a rapid pulse, a result of your body overheating. It's one of three heat-related syndromes, with heat cramps being the mildest and heatstroke being the most severe.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
- Heavy sweating.
- Cold, pale, and clammy skin.
- Fast, weak pulse.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Muscle cramps.
- Tiredness or weakness.
- Dizziness.
- Headache.
10 Tips for Surviving a Heat Wave While It's Happening
- Stay hydrated with plenty of water—even if you're not thirsty.
- Never leave children or pets alone in hot vehicles—even for a second.
- Stay inside during the hottest part of the day (10 A.M to 4 P.M.) and limit time outside in the Sun.
Contact a doctor if signs or symptoms worsen or if they don't improve within one hour. Call 911 or your local emergency number if the person's condition deteriorates, especially if he or she experiences: Fainting. Agitation.
Confusion, agitation, slurred speech, irritability, delirium, seizures and coma can all result from heatstroke. Alteration in sweating. In heatstroke brought on by hot weather, your skin will feel hot and dry to the touch.
If you suspect heat cramps
- Rest briefly and cool down.
- Drink clear juice or an electrolyte-containing sports drink.
- Practice gentle, range-of-motion stretching and gentle massage of the affected muscle group.
- Don't resume strenuous activity for several hours or longer after heat cramps go away.
Who is at greatest risk for heat-related illness? Those at greatest risk for heat-related illness include infants and children up to four years of age, people 65 years of age and older, people who are overweight, and people who are ill or on certain medications.
Overactive thyroidHaving an overactive thyroid gland, also known as hyperthyroidism, can make people feel constantly hot. Hyperthyroidism happens when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone. The condition can affect how the body regulates temperature. People may also be sweating more than usual.
In heat stroke, the body temperature reaches 104 degrees or higher. Symptoms include high body temperature, lack of sweating, nausea and vomiting, flushed skin, rapid breathing, rapid heartbeat, headache, confusion, unconsciousness and muscle cramps or weakness.
Symptoms of heatstroke include: Hot, dry skin that may be red, blue-ish, or mottled in appearance. Hallucinations. Chills.
Heat exhaustion symptoms typically last 30 minutes or less when treated promptly. Complete recovery may take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours. To shorten the duration of heat exhaustion, drink plenty of fluids and seek out a cool place to rest and recover.
Conduction and evaporation are the two modes of cooling employed in the treatment of heat-related illness. Studies have shown ice-water immersion to be the most rapidly effective.
Thanks to your body's natural hormones, your core temperature drops in the evening ready for sleep. This is what helps you to nod off. It then rises again in the morning preparing you to wake up. Some people can be particularly sensitive to this change, leading them to wake up feeling too hot during the early hours.
Treatment of Heat Stroke: Call 9-1-1 (activate EMS). Quickly cool the victim by immersing in water up to neck; spraying, sponging or showering with cool water; placing ice packs against the groin, armpits and sides of the neck.
Both heat exhaustion and heat stroke are serious conditions. Heat exhaustion begins with general muscle weakness, sudden excessive sweating, nausea and vomiting, and possible fainting. A heat stroke is when your body's internal temperature reaches over 103 degrees.
Wear Appropriate Clothing: Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Stay Cool Indoors: Stay in an air-conditioned place as much as possible.
Home treatment isn't enough for heatstroke. If you have signs or symptoms of heatstroke, seek emergency medical help. Others should take steps to cool you off while waiting for emergency help to arrive.
People may feel hot without a fever for many reasons. Some causes may be temporary and easy to identify, such as eating spicy foods, a humid environment, or stress and anxiety. However, some people may feel hot frequently for no apparent reason, which could be a symptom of an underlying condition.
Get them to drink plenty of water. Sports or rehydration drinks are OK. Cool their skin – spray or sponge them with cool water and fan them. Cold packs around the armpits or neck are good, too.
For severe hypothermia (below 28 oC), signs and symptoms include: unconscious and no longer responding. the heart beats more slowly and may become irregular before ultimately stopping if the person gets too cold. no response to light in the pupil of the eye.
Three common heat-related illnesses include heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. Heat cramps and heat exhaustion are less severe than heatstroke, but they can all be avoided if you take time to rest, drink enough fluids, and spend time in cool areas when they're available.
