heatstroke

Heatstroke is the most severe of heat-related problems, after heat cramps and heat exhaustion. Heatstroke often results from exercise or heavy work in hot environments combined with inadequate fluid intake.

Young children, older adults, people who are obese and people born with an impaired ability to sweat are at high risk of heatstroke. Other risk factors include dehydration, alcohol use, cardiovascular disease and certain medications.

What makes heatstroke severe and potentially life-threatening is that the body's normal mechanisms for dealing with heat stress, such as sweating and temperature control, become inadequate. The main sign of heatstroke is a markedly elevated body temperature — generally greater than 104 F (40 C) — with changes in mental status ranging from personality changes to confusion and coma. Skin may be hot and dry — although if heatstroke is caused by exertion, the skin may be moist.

Other signs and symptoms may include:

Rapid heartbeat Rapid and shallow breathing Elevated or lowered blood pressure Cessation of sweating Irritability, confusion or unconsciousness Feeling dizzy or lightheaded Headache Nausea Fainting, which may be the first sign in older adults

If you suspect heatstroke:

Move the person out of the sun and into a shady or air-conditioned space. Call 911 or emergency medical help. Cool the person by covering with damp sheets or by spraying with cool water. Direct air onto the person

with a fan or newspaper. Have the person drink cool water or other nonalcoholic beverage without caffeine, if he or she is able.

Aid: Heat Stroke

The human body has several mechanisms that dissipate heat and cool the body. When the body can no longer cool itself and goes beyond heat cramps and heat exhaustion the body will enter the final stage of heat disorders, heat stroke. When the human body’s core temperature rises above 41 degrees Celsius the situation becomes life threatening. With the body no longer able to sweat and cool the system immediate intervention is required or the patient can suffer a loss of consciousness, permanent brain damage and death. This page will focus on the signs and symptoms of heat stroke, the treatment and how to prevent it. The material posted on this page is for information purposes only, to learn to recognize and provide care for patients with heat stroke enrol into a standard first aid course (find a provider near you).

Signs and Symptoms of Heat Stroke:

Lowered level’s of consciousness including confusion. Seizures. Nausea, vomiting and headaches. Irregular pulse rate. Unconscious, non breathing, no pulse. Shock. Unconscious.

Hot, dry, flushed skin. Absence of sweat, red skin.

The presence of hot and dry skin coupled with lowered or no consciousness should flag to the rescuer a high likelihood of heat stroke.

Treatment of Heat Stroke:

If CPR is needed the rescuer should administer it and contact EMS and retrieve a AED through the use of a bystander if possible.

The patient should be removed from the environment and placed into the coolest place available. Lay the patient down on his or her back if possible and remove the patients clothing to apply cold water to

the patient. Other methods of efficient and rapid cooling include covering the victim in cool water, placing a wet cold

blanket on the victim, or soaking the victim with cool water. Rescuer(s) should aggressively cool the victim’s body.

Contact EMS immediately. If conscious and able to do so the patient should rehydrate with cool fluids excluding alcoholic beverages,

caffeine beverages, soft drinks or other diuretics.

To prevent heat stroke people should be careful not to overexert themselves in hot and humid environments and lead healthy lifestyles without drug or alcohol abuse. To learn more about caring for and recognizing patients with heat stroke enrol into a standard first aid course.

Read more: http://standardfirstaidcourses.ca/first-aid-heat-stroke/#ixzz2n0zUkdEC

Cramps are muscle spasms generally caused by exercising and loss fluid, for example, through heatstroke. However, they can also occur spontaneously, often at night, particularly in older people. Common sites for cramps include the sole of the foot, the calf, and the thigh. If the abdominal muscles are affected, the condition is known as a stitch.

TREATING CRAMPS

A gentle stretching and massage of the affected area will help to relieve cramps. Give the affected person plenty of fluid and something salty to eat.

FOR THE THIGH

1. Straighten the knee and raise the leg if the cramp is in the back of the leg.

2. Bend the knee if the cramp is in the front of the thigh.

3. Massage the affected muscle firmly.

FOR A FOOT

Often if the affected person stands on the foot with the sole flat on the ground, this may relieve pain. If this does not work, accompany this with gentle massage. 

FOR THE CALF

Straighten the person’s knee and gently push the foot up toward the shin. Massage the affected muscle. 

First Aid for Muscle Cramps

February 8th, 2013 | Posted by firstaider in Sprains and Strains

Muscle cramps refer to the sudden contraction of one or more muscles in your body. Muscle cramps are involuntary contractions that can take place while you are asleep or during strenuous exercise. Muscle cramps are often excruciatingly painful and make it impossible to use the muscle that is being taxed. However, muscle cramps are usually harmless and recover in just a few hours.

Causes

Muscle cramps are often caused due to dehydration, keeping your muscles in one position for a long period of time and muscle strains. Muscle cramps or nocturnal cramps that occur at night affect the toe or calf muscles while you are sleeping.

Overuse of a muscle, dehydration, muscle strain or simply sticking to one position for a prolonged period of time may result in a muscle cramp. Athletes who become fatigued and dehydrated while participating in warm-weather sports frequently develop muscle cramps. Another common type of muscle cramp — nocturnal cramps — occurs in your calf muscles or toes during sleep.

Sometimes the main cause of muscle cramps is not known however, it is possible that the muscle cramp is a symptom of a major underlying factor or complication such as:

Mineral deficiency. When your body lacks potassium, magnesium and calcium you are more likely to suffer from muscle cramps. Mineral depletion is often caused due to major factors such as high blood pressure which leads to the loss of potassium.

Inadequate blood supply. You may feel pain similar to muscle cramps when your blood vessels supplying blood to your extremities become narrow. This is also referred to as the arteriosclerosis of the extremities and is more likely to occur when you are exercising, which stops when you rest.

Nerve compression. Cramp-like pain can also be felt when the nerves in your spine become compressed. The longer you walk, the more pain you will feel. You can reduce the pain by walking in a flexed manner.

Kidney, thyroid/hormone and nerve disorders. These complications may also lead to muscle cramps. Sometimes hypoglycemia and anemia may cause muscle cramps or pain similar to muscle cramps as well.

Signs and symptoms

Sudden and sharp pain in the muscles, usually of your legs You may feel a hard lump of muscle under the skin of the affected area

Seek medical attention if the following symptoms result:

Prolonged and/or frequent muscle cramps Muscle cramps that cause severe discomfort

Muscle cramps that do not ease out with treatment You suspect that muscle cramps are not caused due to an obvious reason such as nocturnal cramps or

strenuous exercise

Treatment

The following self-help tips may alleviate the pain caused due to muscle cramps:

If you are suffering from a muscle cramp in your leg, simply stretch out your lower leg After stretching, massage the affected muscle. If your foot is affected, simply massage the foot without

stretching. For the leg, pull your foot upwards towards your shin while massaging For your upper leg, extend your leg and massage till the pain lessens Use a heating pad to apply heat on the affected muscle. You can apply a hot water bottle wrapped in a

towel for this purpose as well. Use a damp cloth instead of a dry one and avoid applying direct heat on the affected area.

If you do not recover from the pain even after treatment, or if the pain persists, seek medical

their spine.

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