ch21 presentation heat_emergencies
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Chapter 21Heat-Related Emergencies
How the Body Stays Cool
• The body is constantly trying to remain cool and disperse the heat that it produces.
• If you do not rid your body of excess heat fast enough, damage to the brain and other vital organs will result.
Disposing of Excess Heat
• Evaporation− Sweat
• Radiation− The body releases heat into its surroundings
when air temperature is 70°F or less.− As environmental temperature approaches
the body’s temperature, heat loss through radiation is reduced.
Water Loss
• Water makes up about 50% to 60% of an adult’s body weight.
• About 2 quarts of water are lost daily through:− Breathing− Urinating− Bowel movements− Sweat
Water Loss
• An adult requires about 2 quarts a day.• A working adult can produce 2 to 3 quarts
of sweat an hour.• When you are thirsty, you are already
dehydrated.
Dehydration
• Monitor urine output.• While working outside in hot weather, drink
8 ounces of water every 20 minutes.• Avoid:
− Caffeinated or alcoholic beverages− Soda− Fruit juices
Electrolyte Loss
• Potassium and sodium are essential electrolytes.− Found in sweat and urine− Control movement of water in and out of cells
Water Intoxication
• Drinking more than 1 quart of water an hour
• Profuse sweating for long periods• Electrolytes are flushed from the body.• Symptoms include:
− Frequent urination− Behavior changes
Effects of Humidity
• Sweat can cool the body if it evaporates.− Cannot evaporate in high humidity.
• At about 75% humidity, sweating is ineffective.
• The higher the humidity, the lower the temperature at which heat risk begins.
Who Is at Risk?
• Obese people• People with
chronic illness• People with
alcoholism• Older people
• Infants and young children
• Children and pets left in parked cars
• Outdoor laborers and athletes
Who Is at Risk?
• Certain medications predispose to heat stroke− Those that alter sweat production− Those that interfere with thermoregulation
Heat Illnesses
• Include a range of disorders• Only heat stroke is life threatening.
− Untreated people always die.
Heat Cramps: What to Look For
• Painful muscle spasms• Affect the muscles in the back of the leg or
abdomen• Happen suddenly during or after physical
exertion
Heat Cramps: What to Do
• Have the person rest in a cool place.• Have the person drink lightly salted, cool
water or commercial sports drink.• Stretch the cramped muscle.• Pinch the upper lip just below the nose.
Heat Exhaustion: What to Look For
• Sweating• Thirst• Fatigue• Flulike symptoms
• Shortness of breath
• Rapid heart rate
Heat Exhaustion: What to Do
• Move person to a cool place.• Remove excess clothing.• Spray or douse person with cold water.• If person is able to swallow:
− Give a commercial sports drink, fruit juice, lightly salted water, or cold water.
• Call 9-1-1 if no improvement.
Heat Stroke
• Classic heat stroke can take days to develop.
• Exertional heat stroke has a rapid onset.
© Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Heat Stroke vs. Heat Exhaustion
• Suspect heat stroke if:− Person’s body feels extremely hot.− Person’s mental behavior is altered.− A coma occurs in less than an hour
• Rectal temperature can also distinguish heat stroke from heat exhaustion.
Heat Stroke: What to Look For
• Extremely hot skin when touched− Usually dry
• Altered mental status
Heat Stroke: What to Do
• Move the person to a cool, shaded area.• Remove clothing down to the person’s
underwear.• Cool the person quickly by any means
possible.
Heat Stroke: What to Do
• Whole-body cold water immersion
• Evaporative cooling• Place ice packs
against person’s armpits, groin, and sides of neck.
© Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Heat Stroke: What to Do
• Stop cooling when the person’s mental status improves.
• Monitor the person frequently.• Call 9-1-1 as soon as possible.
Heat Syncope: What to Look For
• Dizziness or fainting that occurs immediately after strenuous physical activity in a hot environment
Heat Syncope: What to Do
• If unresponsive, check breathing.• If person fell, check for injuries.• Have person rest in a cool area.• Wet skin with cool cloth or spray bottle.• Give lightly salted cool water or a
commercial sports drink.
Heat Edema
• What to look for:− Swollen ankles and feet that occur during the
first few days in a hot environment• What to do:
− Have person wear support stockings.− Elevate person’s legs.
Heat Rash
• What to look for:− Itchy rash on skin wet from sweating− Seen in humid regions after prolonged
sweating• What to do:
− Dry and cool the person’s skin.− Limit heat exposure.
Hyponatremia: What to Look For
• The person drank too much water.• Frequent urination; urine is clear.• Profuse sweating for long periods• Dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting,
headache• Altered mental status• Seizures or unresponsiveness
Hyponatremia: What to Do
• Move the person to a cool location.• Do not give more fluids.• Give salty foods.• For a person with altered mental status,
call 9-1-1 as soon as possible.
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