Handout for heat related illness presentation

1. Heat Related Illness
Heat Exhaustion
• Water Depletion
• Salt Depletion
Heat Stroke
• Hyperthermia
• Prolonged exposure to high temperatures
• Usually in combination with dehydration
• Temperature > 40.6 °C
• Not sweating?
• Confusion
•
S&S
 Confusion
 Dark-colored urine
 Dizziness
 Fainting
 Fatigue
 Headache
 Muscle cramps
 Nausea
 Pale skin
 Profuse sweating
 Rapid heartbeat
S&S
• Confusion
• Dark-colored urine
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea
• Pale skin
• Profuse sweating
• Rapid heartbeat
Heat Safety
 Drink at least 2 litres of water every 2-3 hours
 Add a little more salt to meals in summer to replace salt lost in sweat
 Slow down and rest in very hot weather conditions
 Get plenty of sleep and rest at night
 When you feel unwell tell your supervisor
Treatment of heat-related illness
 Immediately get out of the heat
 Rest
 Air-conditioned room or cool, shady place.
 Drink plenty of fluid
 Remove any tight or unnecessary clothing
 Cool shower, bath or spray
 Other cooling measures such as fans
Further reading
Lipman GS, Eifling KP, Ellis MA, Gaudio FG, Otten EM, Grissom CK; Wilderness Medical Society. Wilderness
Medical Society practice guidelines for the prevention and treatment of heat-related illness. Wilderness
Environ Med. 2013 Dec;24(4):351-61. PMID: 24140191