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Heat kills by pushing the human body beyond its limits. Most heat disorders occur because the victim has been overexposed to heat or has over-exercised for his or her age or physical condition.
Know the terms associated with extreme heat:
Heat wave is a prolonged period of excessive
heat, often combined with excessive humidity.
Heat index is a number in degrees Fahrenheit (F) that tells how hot it feels when relative humidity is added to the air temperature. Exposure to full sunshine can increase the heat index by 15 degrees.
Heat cramps refer to muscular pains and spasms due to heavy exertion, and are often the first signal that the body is having trouble with the heat.
Heat exhaustion typically occurs when people exercise heavily or work in a hot, humid place where body fluids are lost through heavy sweating. Blood flow to the skin increases, causing blood flow to decrease to the vital organs. This results in a a form of mild shock. If not treated, the condition will worsen. Body temperature will keep rising and the victim may suffer heat stroke.
Heat stroke/Sun stroke is life threatening. The victim's temperature control system,which produces sweating to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly.| What to do during extreme
heat or a heat wave emergency: |
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Stay indoors as much as possible, staying on the lowest floor out of sunshine if no air conditioning is available.. |
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Eat well-balanced, light and regular meals. |
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Drink plenty of water regularly, even if you do not feel thirsty. (Persons who have epilepsy or heart, kidney or liver disease, are on fluid restricted diets or have fluid retention problems should check with their doctor before increasing liquids.) |
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Limit intake of alcohol as it causes dehydration. |
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Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles. |
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Dress in loose-fitting clothes that covers as much skin as possible and protect your face and head by wearing a wide-brimmed hat. |
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Avoid too much sunshine, use a sunscreen lotion with an SPF rating of 15 or higher. |
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Spend at least 2 hours per day in an air-conditioned place. If not available at home, this can be a library, schools, theaters, malls or other community facilities. |
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Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning or who spend much of their time alone. |
First-aid for heat-induced illnesses
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Sunburn | |
| Symptoms: Skin redness and pain, possible swelling, blisters, fever, headaches | First Aid: Take a shower, using soap, to remove oils that may block pores, preventing the body from cooling naturally. If blisters occur, apply dry, sterile dressings and get medical attention. | |
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Heat cramps | |
| Symptoms: Painful spasms, usually in leg and abdominal muscles. Heavy sweating. | First Aid: Get the victim to a cool location. Lightly stretch and gently massage affected muscles. Give sips of up to half a glass of cool water every 15 minutes, no alcohol or caffeine. Discontinue liquids if nauseous. | |
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Heat exhaustion | |
| Symptoms: Heavy sweating and skin may be cool, pale or flushed. Weak pulse. Normal body temp is possible but it will likely rise. Fainting or dizziness, nausea and vomiting, exhaustion and headache. | First Aid: Get the victim to lie down in a cool place. Loosen or remove clothing, apply cool, wet cloths. Fan or move to air-conditioned place. Give sips of up to half a glass of cool water every 15 minutes (slowly), no alcohol or caffeine. Discontinue liquids if nauseous. If vomiting occurs, seek medical attention. | |
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Heat stroke/Sun stroke | |
| Symptoms: High body temp (105+). Hot, red, dry skin. Rapid, weak pulse, and rapid, shallow breathing. Possible unconsciousness. Probably no sweat unless from recent strenuous activity. | First Aid: Heat stroke is a severe medical emergency. Call 911 or get the victim to a hospital immediately. Delay can be fatal. In the meantime, move the victim to a cooler environment, remove clothing, apply cool, wet cloths. Watch for breathing problems. Use fans and air conditioners. | |
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