| Among the various heat stress disorders are heat cramps, heat exhaustion,
dehydration exhaustion, and heat stroke. The Southwestern Region of the
USFS offers the following guidelines for recognizing and treating heat
stress disorders: |
Type
of
Heat Stress |
Cause |
Symptoms |
Treatment |
| Heat
cramps |
Failure
to replace salt lost in sweating. |
Painful
muscle cramps. |
Drink
lightly salted water or lemonade, tomato juice, or athletic drinks; stretch
cramped muscle. |
| Heat
exhaustion |
Failure
to replace water and salt lost in sweating. |
Weakness,
unstable gait, or extreme fatigue; wet clammy skin; headache, nausea, collapse. |
Rest
in shade and drink lightly salted fluids. |
| Dehydration
exhaustion |
Failure
to replace water losses over several days. |
Weight
loss and excessive fatigue. |
Drink
fluids and rest until body weight and water losses are restored. |
| Heat
stroke |
Total
collapse of temperature regulating mechanisms. |
Hot
skin; high body temperature (106F or higher); mental confusion, delirium,
loss of consciousness, convulsions. |
Rapidly
cool victim immediately, either by immersing in cold water or soaking clothing
with cold water and fanning vigorously to promote evaporative cooling.
Continue until temperature drops below 102F. Treat for shock if necessary
once temperature is lowered. Send for medical help at once. Brain damage
and death result if treatment is delayed. |
| Water is relatively scarce, but flash flooding can occur even it is not raining where you are. Watch the weather all around for storms. Purification of all water is a necessity.
|
Take More Water Than You Think You Will Need
For Every Person and Animal, Even on a Car Trip! |
