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Now let’s talk about heat emergencies. See, heat emergencies can occur when the body's temperature regulation system becomes overwhelmed by excessive heat. Knowing how to assess and provide first aid for these emergencies is vital. This video will guide you through the assessment and initial treatment of heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Let's take a closer look. Heat Cramps are painful muscle contractions that typically occur during physical activity in hot weather. If someone experiences heat cramps, guide them to a cool place, a shaded area, and have them rest. Encourage the person to drink fluids preferably containing electrolytes. Gently massage the affected muscles and apply a cool compress if available. Remember to create a cool environment and promote rehydration for heat cramps. Secondly, is heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion is a more severe condition resulting from prolonged exposure to high temperatures and inadequate fluid intake. Signs of heat exhaustion include profuse sweating, pale skin, weakness, dizziness, headache, and nausea. Move the person to a cool location, indoors with air conditioning is best, but at least a shaded area. Have them lie down and loosen or remove excess clothing. Apply cool, wet cloth or towels to their body and use fans or misting water to cool the patient down. Offer them small sips of water or a sports drink if they can swallow without nausea. Monitor these patients until they feel better or consider calling EMS or further medical treatment for more severe cases. Prioritizing cooling, rehydration, and rest is crucial for the treatment of heat exhaustion. Now as the body becomes more dehydrated and overheated it moves from heat cramps to heat exhaustion, and then from that, it goes all the way into heat stroke. Heat Stroke is a life-threatening emergency characterized by a dangerously high body temperature. Since these patients can no longer control their body temperatures, they’ll start with all the previous symptoms and transition into hot, dry skin and an altered mental status they might even go unresponsive. So call emergency services immediately when this is seen, as heat stroke requires prompt medical attention. While waiting for help, move the person to a cool area and remove excessive clothing. Make sure to cool their body rapidly using any means available—immersion in cool water, spraying them with a hose, applying cool water-soaked towels, or even ice packs in the armpits, groin, or next to the neck. We need to cool these patients quickly; however, you might be cooling them too fast if they start shivering. It is best not to provide fluids to these patients since they may not be able to swallow safely and it can make them vomit, further dehydrating them and complicating their airways. Cooling the body rapidly and activating emergency medical services is a priority in heat stroke cases. While many cases of heat stroke can happen to students playing sports, employees on construction sites, or in hot factories, remember that the elderly can be prone to heat stroke during hot summer months right inside their very homes. Remember, early recognition and intervention are critical in heat emergencies. So stay vigilant, plan for extra fluids, and rest on hot days to help avoid these heat-related illnesses.
As you know, the human body runs at an internal temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, or 37 degrees Celsius.
The control center responsible for regulating this internal temperature is located in the brain, and more specifically, the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus receives information and adjusts body functions to maintain this optimal temperature.
The temperature range – that which allows cells to stay alive and healthy – is actually quite narrow, at between 97.8 degrees and 99 degrees.
Let's quickly look at the process of how the body cools down on its own.
- The hypothalamus detects a rise in blood temperature.
- Blood vessels close to the surface of the skin begin to dilate.
- This brings more blood to the surface and allows heat to escape.
At the end of this lesson, we'll get into the five general ways in which the body can be cooled externally, along with several types of heat-related conditions to watch out for.
How to Treat for a Heat-Related Emergency
Heat-related emergencies typically occur in hot environments and when the patient hasn't been rehydrating enough to compensate for water loss. Common symptoms of a heat-related emergency include:
- Profuse sweating
- Dizziness
- Extreme thirst
- Cramping, usually in arms or legs
Warning: Losing fluids can be very serious. In the absence of proper medical treatment, if the condition cannot be reversed, it will likely progress to the next level which is heatstroke.
Pro Tip #1: If the patient suddenly goes from wet to dry and stops sweating, it's because the patient's body doesn't have enough fluids to lose. This is a good indication that the warning above is now likely a reality, making the situation that much more serious.
Your number one goal when dealing with a heat-related emergency is to cool the patient down any way you can.
Ideally, the patient is able to get some fluids down. But if for some reason they aren't able to drink or swallow or can't hold fluids down, you'll need to cool them off externally.
Find a water source and some containers or a hose and begin pouring water over the victim, including their clothing, to help bring their core temperature down to a safe level.
Another great aid in these situations is the cold pack. If you have some available, try placing them under the patient's armpits, the back of the neck, or forehead.
Pro Tip #2: The key to successfully treating someone who is having a heat-related emergency begins by recognizing that emergency. Time is crucial. Once you've diagnosed the problem, the next step is reversing the condition by cooling them down.
If at any point, the patient becomes unresponsive, goes unconscious, or is not able to breathe normally, call 911 immediately and activate EMS. Then begin CPR.
A Word About Heat-Related Emergencies
There are several types of heat-related conditions to be aware of, but let's first look at the general ways in which the body can be cooled.
Radiation
Radiation involves the transfer of heat from one object to another, though without physical contact. The human body also loses heat due to radiation, mostly through the head, feet, and hands.
Convection
Convection occurs when cold air moves over the skin and carries heat away. The faster the flow of air, the faster the body will be cooled. Convection is why warm skin feels cooler in a breeze. Convection also assists in the evaporation process.
Conduction
Conduction occurs when the body is in direct contact with something that is cooler than the body's temperature. Conduction allows the body's heat to transfer to the cooler object. Think about swimming in a cold lake or leaning against a cool slab of stone.
Evaporation
Evaporation is the process by which a liquid or solid becomes a vapor. When body heat causes one to perspire and the perspiration evaporates, the heat that was absorbed into the sweat dissipates into the air which cools off the skin.
Respiration
The last way in which the body can cool itself is through respiration. Before air is exhaled, it's warmed by the lungs and airway. Respiration accounts for around 10 to 20 percent of heat loss.
There are several types of heat-related illnesses (hyperthermia) to be aware of, including dehydration, exercise-associated muscle cramps, exertional heat exhaustion, and heatstroke.
Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when there is an inadequate supply of water in the body's tissues. Dehydration can be serious and life-threatening, particularly for the very young and very old. Symptoms, which include fatigue, headaches, irritability, nausea, and dizziness, will worsen as the body continues to lose water.
Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps
Muscle cramps are thought to occur due to a combination of fluid and electrolyte loss through sweating. Muscle cramps typically come on quickly and after rigorous work or exercise and are particularly more common in warmer environments.
Exertional Heat Exhaustion
Exertional Heat Exhaustion occurs when the body loses more fluids than are replenished. As this happens, the body will divert blood from the surface of the body to vital organs like the heart and brain. This type of heat-related illness is usually the result of intense physical activities and often in hot and humid climates – athletes, firefighters, construction workers, etc.
Heatstroke
Heatstroke is the most serious type of heat-related illness and can be life-threatening if quick action isn't taken. As there is a progressive nature to these conditions, ignoring the warning signs of exertional heat exhaustion can quickly lead to a body that will become overwhelmed by heat and begin to stop functioning.