HEAT EXHAUSTION
CAN OCCUR WHEN A PERSON’S BODY IS OVERHEATING FROM A HOT CLIMATE AND/OR WHEN PERFORMING A PHYSICAL TASK IN THE HEATED CONDITIONS.
HEAT EXHAUSTION INCLUDES: PROFUSE SWEATING
RAPID HEART BEAT
DIZZINESS
FAINTING
PALE SKIN
HEADACHE
NAUSEA
VOMITING
DIARRHEA
DARK-COLORED URINE
HEAT SYNCOPE
HEAT SYNCOPE: SUDDEN DIZZINESS OR FAINTING AFTER EXERCISING IN THE HEAT. THE SKIN APPEARS PALE AND SWEATY BUT IS MOIST AND COOL. THE PULSE MAY BE WEEKEND AND HEART-RATE IS RAPID. BODY TEMPERATURE IS NORMAL.
HEAT CRAMPS: PAINFUL MUSCLE SPASMS IN THE ABDOMEN, ARMS OR LEGS FOLLOWING STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES. THE SKIN IS USUALLY MOIST AND COOL AND PULSE IS NORMAL OR SLIGHTLY RAISED. BODY TEMPERATURE IS MOSTLY NORMAL. HEAT CRAMPS OFTEN ARE CAUSED BY A LACK OF SALT IN THE BODY, BUT SALT REPLACEMENT SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT ADVISE FROM A PHYSICIAN.
HEAT EXHAUSTION: A WARNING THAT THE BODY IS GETTING TOO HOT. PERSON MAY BE THIRSTY, WEAK, UNCOORDINATED, NAUSEOUS OR SWEATING PROFUSELY. THE BODY TEMPERATURE IS USUALLY NORMAL AND THE PULSE IS NORMAL OR RAISED. THE SKIN IS COLD AND CLAMMY. HEAT EXHAUSTION IS THE BODY’S RESPONSE TO AN EXCESSIVE LOSS OF WATER AND SALT CONTAINED IN SWEAT. THOSE MOST PRONE TO HEAT EXHAUSTION INCLUDE THE ELDERLY, PEOPLE WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND PEOPLE WORKING OR EXERCISING IN A HOT ENVIRONMENT.
HEAT STROKE
NOTIFY ANYONE RELATED TO THEM TO COME TO THE HOSPITAL.