5.4.2 Heat Stress Injuries/Illness/Symptoms

HEAT STROKE
Symptoms: Usually hot, dry skin; red, mottled or bluish. Sweating may still be present. Confusion, loss of conciousness, convulsions, rapid pulse, rectal temperature greater than 104°. When in doubt, treat as a heat stroke. Can be fatal.
Treatment: Medical Emergency. Call paramedics and start cooling the victim immediatly. Remove the victim to a cool area. Soak clothing and skin with cool water and use a fan to create air movement. Shock may occur. Medical treatment is imperative.
Causes: Partial or complete failure of sweating mechanism. The body cannot get rid of excess heat.
Prevention: Acclimation, close monitoring for signs of heat illness, medical screening and drinking plenty of water.
HEAT EXHAUSTION
Symptoms: Fatigue, weakness, dizziness, faintness, nausea, headache; moist clammy skin; pale or flushed, rapid pulse; normal or slightly elevarted temperature.
Treatment: Have the victim rest in a cool area and drink fluids.
Causes: Dehydration causes blood volume to decrease.
Prevention: Acclimation and drinking plenty of water.
HEAT SYNCOPE
Symptoms: Fainting while standing erect and immobile. A variant of heat exhaustion. Symptoms of heat exhaustion may precede fainting.
Treatment: Move the victim to a cool area, have the victim rest and drink fluids.
Causes: Dehydration causes blood volume to decrease. Blood pools in dilated blood vessles of the skin and lower body, making less blood available to the brain.
Prevention: Acclimation, drinking plenty of water, avoid standing in one place and intermittent activity to avoid blood pooling.
HEAT CRAMPS
Symptoms: Painful muscle spasms in the arms, legs or abdomen during or after physical work.
Treatment: Resting, drinking water and eating more salty foods.
Causes: Not well understood, may be due to a loss of salt form sweating. Dehydration is a factor.
Prevention: Adequate water intake and adequate sal intake ar meals; do not use salt tablets.
HEAT RASH
Symptoms: “Prickly heat’; tiny, raised, blister-like rash.
Treatment: Keeping skin clean and dry
Causes: Skin is constantly wet from sweat. Sweat gland ducts become plugged, leading to inflammation.
Prevention: Showering after working in hot environment. Keeping skin dry
TRANSIENT HEAT FATIGUE
Symptoms: Decline in performance, particularly in skille physical work, mental tasks and those requiring concentration.
Treatment: No treatment necessary unless toher signs of heat illness are present.
Causes: Discomfort, stress from the heat less than what would result in other heat illnesses.
Prevention: Acclimation and training.