Summer Safety: Heat Emergencies

Jul 22, 2023

• Share on Facebook
• Tweet
• Pin it
• Share on LinkedIn

Submitted by Teresa Sherrard, RN, William Newton Hospital Director of Occupational Health Services

Summer is in full swing, and we need to be aware that extreme heat events do occur in Kansas. Multiple things affect how temperature affects us, such as exposure to temperature and sun, humidity, activity level, fluid intake, or being confined or trapped in a place that heats up, such as a car or a house without air-conditioning or fans.

There are three stages of heat emergency and all of them are serious. Everyone should be able to spot symptoms of a heat emergency because getting treatment in the early stages of a heat incident will help prevent it from progressing to a more serious condition. Heatstroke can be fatal or cause lifelong complications.

The best way to prevent heat problems is to stay hydrated. Proper hydration means getting enough water before, during, and after exercise; whether it is recreational or work.

The American Council on Exercise recommends these guidelines before, during, and after a workout:

• Drink 17-20 ounces 2-3 hours before your exercise
• Drink 8 ounces, 20-30 minutes before you exercise
• Drink 7-10 ounces every 10-20 minutes during exercise
• Drink 8 ounces within 30 minutes after exercise

If you are someone who drinks Gatorade or other sports drinks, my suggestion is to drink twice as much water as the sports drink. In other words, if you drink 8 ounces of a sports drink, you should drink 16 ounces of water before drinking any more sports drink. Too much sports drink and not enough water can actually be harmful to you.

Stages of a Heat Emergency

In a heat emergency, stages include heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke.

• Heat cramps are the first stage and usually happen when someone has been physically active in the heat. Heat cramps can also occur if someone is not active but still in the heat. Symptoms of heat cramps are muscle pain and tightness. Persons who are especially susceptible are the elderly, small children, overweight people, and those drinking alcohol.
• Heat exhaustion symptoms include muscle cramps, dizziness, mild confusion, fast heart rate or breathing, headache, irritability, extreme thirst, nausea or vomiting, pale skin, heavy sweating, or fainting.
• Heatstroke – THE MOST DANGEROUS of heat emergencies. May have all the symptoms of heat exhaustion as well as: irrational behavior or hallucinations, confusion, rapid and shallow breathing, rapid and weak pulse, seizures, loss of consciousness, and dry hot skin. These folks will NOT BE SWEATING!

A good way to prevent heat emergencies is to get hydrated and stay hydrated. Drink fluids before starting any activity in the sun and heat or a hot environment.

Treating Heat Emergency

Initial treatment of all three heat emergencies starts with:

1. Move to a cooler area, out of direct sunlight.
2. Give cool water or sports drinks every 15 minutes. Caution: Don’t drink too quickly.
3. Loosen clothing
4. Apply cool, wet towels to the face, neck, chest, and limbs
5. Fan the skin For heatstroke, call 911 or go to an emergency room immediately. This is a life-threatening emergency!

Then, as well as the above steps, also:

1. Remove sweaty clothing
2. Only give fluids if the person is conscious and able to swallow
3. Have the person checked in the emergency room as soon as possible. Complications include the possibility of brain swelling during heatstroke, and this could lead to permanent damage.

Prevention of Heat Emergencies

1. Stay in the shade or in a ventilated, air-conditioned area during the hottest parts of the day
2. Rest as often as possible
3. Wear light-colored and loose clothing
4. Drink water frequently
5. Avoid alcohol

If you are in need of a fan for your home, contact Eagle Nest, Inc., Angels Care Home Health, or Angels in the Attic.

Editorial Notes: This article was submitted for the "Weekend Check-Up," a regular health column in the Cowley CourierTraveler penned by employees and friends of William Newton Hospital, and is part two of the Weekend Check-Up Summer Safety Series. Contributor Teresa Sherrard, RN is William Newton Hospital’s Director of Occupational Health Services and works with hospital staff along with area business and industry.