Heat-Related

Emergencies
Chapter 21
 Who is at Risk?
1. Everyone is susceptible

2. Elderly people are more at risk

because of impaired cardiac
output and decreased ability to
sweat

3. Infants and young children are

also susceptible (i.e a child
being left in car, a car can soar
to 150 degrees fahrenheit)

4. Medicine: Antihistamines,
Antipsychotics and
Antidepressants.
 “Heat-related emergencies”
entails…
• low danger: heat cramps: “intermittent, involuntary spasms of
larger muscles that occur in an individual who is physically
active in hot weather.”

• medium danger: heat exhaustion: “when the body begins to

cease the ability to move or operate normally, often
accompanied by flu-like symptoms, stopping the body from
achieving the temperatures that may lead to heatstroke”

• high danger: heatstroke: “when the body builds up too much

heat, during hard labor or exercise, rises to life-threatening
temperatures, and one can become delirious or lose
consciousness. Can lead to the destruction of vital organs.”
 How does the body dispose
of excess heat?
• Through their skin (i.e as car loses
heat through their radiator)

• In two ways- radiation and

evaporation (vaporization of sweat)

• An example of this is….

• When people working or exercising

on a hot summer day actually gain
heat through radiation from the sun,
leaving evaporation as the only way
to control body temperature
effectively.
 Water Loss….
• Water makes up about 50% to 60% of an adult’s body

• Humans lose 2 quarts every day through breathing,

urinating, bowl movement, and sweat.

• When a person thirsty, you are already dehydrated. (thirst

is a late sign of dehydration)

• A clear sign of a hydrated body is your urine (clear-

hydrated, cloudy-not hydrated)

• Drinks that make you lose hydration: Coffee, tea, fruit

juices, alcoholic beverages, and soda.
 Electrolyte Loss…

• Humans have a commonality of intaking 10 times more sodium than the body needs. (5
to 10 grams of sodium in excessive, it should be 1 to 3 grams)

• Sweat and urine contains potassium and sodium (it is recommended that people eat
bananas and nuts)

• Their should be a balance in water and salts, if not , it would cause either dehydration
or severe water intoxication (when their is too much water intake within an hour)
 Signs and Symptoms
• Heat cramps: Water and electrolyte losses during times of
excessive sweating

• Painful muscle spasms, sweaty skin and normal body

temperature

• Heat Exhaustion: Sever dehydration

• Profuse sweating, clammy or sweaty skin, thirst, rapid pulse and

nausea.

• Heatstroke: Two types exist (classic and exertional)

• Unresponsive and hot skin which can be dry or wet.

What to do..