blake
Life Member
The following are common HEAT EMERGENCIES
causes of heat emergencies:
• Alcohol use
• Dehydration
• Heart disease
• High temperatures or humidity
• Medications such as diuretics, neuroleptics,
phenothiazines, and anticholinergics
• Prolonged or excessive exercise
• Sweat gland problems
• Too much clothing
Heat Illnesses are easily preventable by taking precautions in hot weather.
Heat emergencies are of three types:
• heat cramps (caused by loss of salt from heavy sweating) can lead to
• heat exhaustion (caused by dehydration), which can progress to
• heatstroke. Heat stroke, the most serious of the three, can cause
shock, brain damage, organ failure and even death.
Children, elderly and obese people have a higher risk of developing heat
illness. People taking certain medications or drinking alcohol also have a
higher risk. However, even a top athlete in superb condition can succumb
to heat illness if they ignore the warning signs.
Early symptoms of heat illness include: Profuse sweating, fatigue, thirst
and muscle cramps
Remove the victim from the heat and have them lie down. Apply cool
compresses, elevate the feet, drink fluids and use a fan to blow cool air.
Get medical help if needed.
causes of heat emergencies:
• Alcohol use
• Dehydration
• Heart disease
• High temperatures or humidity
• Medications such as diuretics, neuroleptics,
phenothiazines, and anticholinergics
• Prolonged or excessive exercise
• Sweat gland problems
• Too much clothing
Heat Illnesses are easily preventable by taking precautions in hot weather.
Heat emergencies are of three types:
• heat cramps (caused by loss of salt from heavy sweating) can lead to
• heat exhaustion (caused by dehydration), which can progress to
• heatstroke. Heat stroke, the most serious of the three, can cause
shock, brain damage, organ failure and even death.
Children, elderly and obese people have a higher risk of developing heat
illness. People taking certain medications or drinking alcohol also have a
higher risk. However, even a top athlete in superb condition can succumb
to heat illness if they ignore the warning signs.
Early symptoms of heat illness include: Profuse sweating, fatigue, thirst
and muscle cramps
Remove the victim from the heat and have them lie down. Apply cool
compresses, elevate the feet, drink fluids and use a fan to blow cool air.
Get medical help if needed.