It is important to protect yourself against heat illness as there are more than 240 heat-related deaths reported nationally each year. These illnesses are listed in order of severity: dehydration (least severe), heat exhaustion (mild severity) and heat stroke (most severe and life-threatening).
Dehydration
Defined as the excessive loss of water from the body. Although it is the least serious and mildest form of the three heat-related injuries, it is a major contributing factor to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Warning signs and symptoms of dehydration
- Conscious, but may be weak or dizzy
- Cramps
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Cannot think clearly
- Normal body temperature
- Extreme exhaustion
- Feeling nauseous
- Skin turgor (skin remains elevated when pinched)
Treatment for Dehydration
- Move the person to a cool, shaded area to rest
- Loosen the person’s clothing, unless you are in a chemical environment
- Have the person drink cool water
Heat Exhaustion
The next level of heat-related injuries after dehydration is heat exhaustion. It is more serious than dehydration, but less serious than heat stroke. It occurs when people work or play in hot, humid places and body fluids are lost through sweating, causing the body to overheat.
Warning signs and symptoms of mild heat exhaustion
- Conscious, but may be dizzy
- Dry mouth
- Normal body temperature
- Sweating (may be present or absent)
- Weakness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Headache
- Muscle cramps and spasms
- Warning signs and symptoms of severe heat exhaustion (in addition to mild signs and symptoms)
- Cold, pale and clammy skin
- Agitation or disorientation
- Complaints of intense thirst
Treatment for heat exhaustion
- Imperative to get the victim out of the heat and cool them off quickly
- Remove the victim from the work or training environment
- Move them to a cool, shaded area to rest (make a shaded area, if needed)
- Position the victim on their back with legs elevated (normal shock position)
- Loosen and open clothing around the neck, waist and feet
- Cool the body by sprinkling water on it or fanning (DO NOT overdo this and cause the victim to shiver)
- DO NOT loosen or remove clothing or pour water over the victim in a chemical environment
- Have the casualty slowly drink one quart (one water bottle) of cool water
- Treat the victim for shock
- If symptoms DO NOT improve or worsen, evacuate the victim to a Military Treatment Facility (MTF) as soon as possible
Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is life-threatening and can kill! It is the most serious type and level of heat-related illness and usually occurs after heat exhaustion. This injury is when a person’s cooling system stops working and their internal temperature rises to a point where brain or organ damage may result. Heat stroke often happens when people perform heavy work in hot environments, usually accompanied by inadequate fluid intake.
Warning signs and symptoms of heat stroke
- Loss of consciousness or victim suddenly collapses
- Unusual behavior or abnormal mental state
- High body temperature
- Red face or skin
- Strong, rapid pulse
- Wet or dry skin (younger individuals tend to sweat or if heat stroke is caused by exertion, the skin is moist)
Treatment for heat stroke
- Heat Stroke is a Medical Emergency
- Send someone to get medical help immediately, if possible
- Move the victim to a cool, shaded area (make a shade area, if possible)
- Position the victim on their back with feet elevated
- Loosen or remove the victim’s outer garments; DO NOT loosen or remove clothing or pour water over the casualty in a chemical environment
- Apply cool packs to neck, groin and armpits, if possible
- Keep the skin wet by applying water or covering the victim with a damp sheet
- Evacuate the patient to the nearest BMT Heat Stroke Cooling Station as soon as possible (e.g. 323 Weapons Pavilion, BEAST, and Reid Clinic). A few minutes can make the difference between a successful recovery, the need for major surgery, or death
- Monitor the victim’s airway, breathing and circulation (ABCs) and administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), if necessary