Heat Related Illness

Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature: the body's temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. When heat stroke occurs, the body temperature can rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not given.

Symptoms

Symptoms of heat stroke include:

Confusion, altered mental status, slurred speech
Loss of consciousness (coma)
Hot, dry skin or profuse sweating
Seizures
Very high body temperature
Fatal if treatment delayed

First Aid

Take the following steps to treat a worker with heat stroke:

Call 911 for emergency medical care.
Stay with worker until emergency medical services arrive.
Move the worker to a shaded, cool area and remove outer clothing.
Cool the worker quickly with a cold water or ice bath if possible; wet the skin, place cold wet cloths on skin, or soak clothing with cool water.
Circulate the air around the worker to speed cooling.
Place cold wet cloths or ice on head, neck, armpits, and groin; or soak the clothing with cool water.

Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is the body's response to an excessive loss of the water and salt, usually through excessive sweating. Workers most prone to heat exhaustion are those that are elderly, have high blood pressure, and those working in a hot environment.

Symptoms

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

Headache
Nausea
Dizziness
Weakness
Irritability
Thirst
Heavy sweating
Elevated body temperature
Decreased urine output

First Aid

Treat a worker suffering from heat exhaustion with the following:

Take worker to a clinic or emergency room for medical evaluation and treatment.
If medical care is unavailable, call 911.
Someone should stay with worker until help arrives.
Remove worker from hot area and give liquids to drink.
Remove unnecessary clothing, including shoes and socks.
Cool the worker with cold compresses or have the worker wash head, face, and neck with cold water.
Encourage frequent sips of cool water.

Rhabdomyolysis

Rhabdomyolysis is a medical condition associated with heat stress and prolonged physical exertion, resulting in the rapid breakdown, rupture, and death of muscle. When muscle tissue dies, electrolytes and large proteins are released into the bloodstream that can cause irregular heart rhythms and seizures, and damage the kidneys.

Symptoms

Symptoms of rhabdomyolysis include:

Muscle cramps/pain
Abnormally dark (tea or cola colored) urine
Weakness
Exercise intolerance
Asymptomatic

First Aid

Workers with symptoms of rhabdomyolysis should:

Stop activity.
Increase oral hydration (water preferred).
Seek immediate care at the nearest medical facility.
Ask to be checked for rhabdomyolysis (i.e., blood sample analyzed for creatine kinase).

Heat Syncope

Heat syncope is a fainting (syncope) episode or dizziness that usually occurs with prolonged standing or sudden rising from a sitting or lying position. Factors that may contribute to heat syncope include dehydration and lack of acclimatization.

Symptoms

Symptoms of heat syncope include:

Fainting (short duration)
Dizziness
Light-headedness during prolonged standing or suddenly rising from a sitting or lying position

First Aid

Workers with heat syncope should:

Sit or lie down in a cool place.
Slowly drink water, clear juice, or a sports drink.

Heat Cramps

Heat cramps usually affect workers who sweat a lot during strenuous activity. This sweating depletes the body's salt and moisture levels. Low salt levels in muscles causes painful cramps. Heat cramps may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion.

Symptoms

Muscle cramps, pain, or spasms in the abdomen, arms, or legs

First Aid

Workers with heat cramps should:

Drink water and have a snack and/or carbohydrate-electrolyte replacement liquid (e.g., sports drinks) every 15 to 20 minutes.
Avoid salt tablets.
Get medical help if the worker has heart problems, is on a low sodium diet, or if cramps do not subside within 1 hour.