Simple precautions can prevent many heat-related deaths and injuries.
It is recommended that you practice the following helpful habits:
Ill Effects of Excessive Heat
Heat Stress
Cause: Failure of the heat regulating mechanism of the body, with or without direct exposure to the sun.
Symptoms: Victim may complain of headache and dizziness. Face is red; skin is hot and dry with no sweating. Other symptoms include high temperature, labored breathing and sometimes unconsciousness.
Treatment: Victim should be removed to a cool place and laid down with his head raised. Remove as much clothing as possible and cool the body with cold applications or a cold bath. Stimulants should never be given. As consciousness returns, he should be watched for signs of shock and treated accordingly.
Heat Exhaustion
Causes: Excessive loss of salt from the system through perspiration, caused by either the sun’s rays or indoor heat.
Symptoms: Victim’s face is pale; skin moist and cool with profuse sweating. Temperature is subnormal; pulse is weak and rapid. Symptoms can also include shallow breathing, dizziness and nausea and vomiting.
Treatment: The victim should be removed to circulating air and laid on his back with head lowered. Wrap the victim in blankets to prevent chills. Frequent drinks of warm salt water (approximately 1 teaspoonful of salt per pint of water) should be administered, keep victim quiet, and treat for shock.
Heat Cramps
Causes: Excessive loss of salt from the system through perspiration. May occur indoors or outdoors.
Symptoms: Cramping pains in the abdomen and limbs. May or may not be accompanied by heat exhaustion.
Treatment: Remove the person to circulating air. Treat for shock. Keep the victim lying down with the head low—no pillows or pads. Keep the victim warm, and if he is conscious and alert and able to do so, have him drink diluted electrolyte solution. Firm hand pressure will often relieve the pain of muscle cramps.
The possibility of heat exhaustion, sunstroke and heatstroke may be minimized by increasing the electrolyte intake during exposure to hot environments, by using extra salt on your food, drinking salt in water, or taking electrolyte tablets to replace the body electrolytes lost through perspiration.