Heat and Cold Related Heat and Cold Related InjuriesInjuries

Prevention and First AidPrevention and First Aid

Heat Related DifficultiesHeat Related Difficulties

Heat Cramps Least severe of the three types

of heat related difficulties Painful muscle spasms Usually occur in the legs and

abdomen

Heat Related DifficultiesHeat Related Difficulties

Heat CrampsHeat Cramps A result of loss of electrolytes A result of loss of electrolytes

(sodium and potassium) from (sodium and potassium) from perspiring (sweating assists our perspiring (sweating assists our bodies in cooling off)bodies in cooling off)

Heat Cramps - Prevention Heat Cramps - Prevention and First Aidand First Aid

Best way to deal with heat cramps is Best way to deal with heat cramps is prevention:prevention:

Add a little extra salt at meals Add a little extra salt at meals (getting enough salt is rarely a (getting enough salt is rarely a problem in the typical American dietproblem in the typical American diet

Eat foods rich in potassium - Eat foods rich in potassium - bananas, apricots, orange juice, bananas, apricots, orange juice, nuts, tomato juicenuts, tomato juice

Condition yourself graduallyCondition yourself gradually

Heat Cramps – Prevention Heat Cramps – Prevention and First Aidand First Aid

First AidFirst Aid for heat cramps: for heat cramps: Have victim rest (sit or lie Have victim rest (sit or lie

down) in a cool placedown) in a cool place Give cool waterGive cool water Light massage and stretchingLight massage and stretching

Heat ExhaustionHeat Exhaustion

More serious than heat crampsMore serious than heat cramps Similar to shockSimilar to shock PreventionPrevention

Drink plenty of fluids - plain Drink plenty of fluids - plain water is best before, during and water is best before, during and after exerciseafter exercise

Again, increase sodium and Again, increase sodium and potassium naturallypotassium naturally

Heat ExhaustionHeat Exhaustion

Avoid Gatorade and similar sports Avoid Gatorade and similar sports drinks as they actually inhibit fluid drinks as they actually inhibit fluid replacement, unless the activity is replacement, unless the activity is prolonged (over an hour).prolonged (over an hour).

Treatment for Heat Exhaustion

Treat mild cases the same as heat cramps (except do not stretch the muscles).

If persistent, gently apply wet towels and call EMS.

Heat StrokeHeat Stroke

Also known as sunstrokeAlso known as sunstroke The most serious of the heat-related The most serious of the heat-related

problemsproblems Usually occurs in very hot Usually occurs in very hot andand humid humid

weatherweather The body can’t cool itself adequatelyThe body can’t cool itself adequately

Heat StrokeHeat Stroke

PreventionPrevention On days that are going to be On days that are going to be

hot and humid, run early or late hot and humid, run early or late in the day, avoiding the hottest in the day, avoiding the hottest partpart

Consume plenty of fluids Consume plenty of fluids before, during and afterbefore, during and after

Heat StrokeHeat Stroke

Recognize heat stroke symptoms in Recognize heat stroke symptoms in othersothers

Hot, dry, flushed skinHot, dry, flushed skin DizzinessDizziness HeadacheHeadache Mental confusionMental confusion

Heat Stroke TreatmentHeat Stroke Treatment

Objective is to cool victim as quickly as Objective is to cool victim as quickly as possiblepossible

Get victim out of the heat; half-Get victim out of the heat; half-sitting positionsitting position

Loosen tight clothingLoosen tight clothing Remove perspiration soaked Remove perspiration soaked

clothingclothing If humidity is below 75%, Apply cool, If humidity is below 75%, Apply cool,

wet cloths to skin or spray with wet cloths to skin or spray with water; if humidity is 75%+, apply ice water; if humidity is 75%+, apply ice packs on neck, armpits, groin.packs on neck, armpits, groin.

Heat Stroke TreatmentHeat Stroke Treatment

Fan the victimFan the victim If victim is conscious, give cool If victim is conscious, give cool

waterwater Call for ambulance if victim Call for ambulance if victim

refuses water, vomits, or starts refuses water, vomits, or starts to lose consciousnessto lose consciousness

Cold-Related Emergencies

Biological defense mechanisms to maintain body temperature during exposure to cold: Vasoconstriction Shivering

Vasoconstriction

Vasoconstriction is the tightening of blood vessels in the exposed skin

Reduced skin blood flow conserves body heat, but at a price: Discomfort Numbness Loss of dexterity in the hands, fingers,

and other extremities Eventually cold injuries

Shivering

Shivering increases internal heat production and helps to offset the heat being lost.

Body’s main involuntary defense against the cold.

Shivering produces body heat by forcing muscles to contract and relax rapidly.

About 80% of the muscle energy used in shivering is turned into body heat.

Shivering reflex stops when the core body temperature falls to about 86 degrees F.

HypothermiaHypothermia

Life-threatening conditionLife-threatening condition Main cause of death for many Main cause of death for many

outdoor recreational activities such outdoor recreational activities such as snowmobiling, skiing, hiking and as snowmobiling, skiing, hiking and backpackingbackpacking

Hypothermia - the body’s core Hypothermia - the body’s core temperature drops below 95 degreestemperature drops below 95 degrees

Hypothermia

Signals of hypothermia: Shivering Numbness Glassy stare Apathy Loss of consciousness

HypothermiaHypothermia

The temperature does not have to be The temperature does not have to be below freezing for hypothermia to below freezing for hypothermia to occur, e.g. 50 degrees on land and occur, e.g. 50 degrees on land and 70 degrees or less in the water70 degrees or less in the water

Factors in HypothermiaFactors in Hypothermia moisturemoisture windwind fatiguefatigue improper clothingimproper clothing

Hypothermia

Other factors in the development of hypothermia:

Age, e.g. elderly people in poorly heated homes

Alcohol Diseases, e.g. C-V disease, diabetes Length of exposure

Ways in which the body Ways in which the body loses heatloses heat

RespirationRespiration - exhalation of - exhalation of warm air removes a small warm air removes a small amount of body heatamount of body heat

RadiationRadiation - any uncovered body - any uncovered body surface will give up heat to the surface will give up heat to the surrounding air, head and neck surrounding air, head and neck mostlymostly

Ways in which the body Ways in which the body loses heatloses heat

ConvectionConvection - wind current - wind current blowing across body will blowing across body will accelerate temperature loss by accelerate temperature loss by quickly removing radiated heatquickly removing radiated heat

Ways in which the body Ways in which the body loses heatloses heat

EvaporationEvaporation - Perspiration or - Perspiration or moisture on skin drying will have a moisture on skin drying will have a cooling effectcooling effect

ConductionConduction - when sitting on the - when sitting on the ground or leaning next to a cold or ground or leaning next to a cold or wet object, heat will be absorbed wet object, heat will be absorbed from the body.from the body.

Safety tips to prevent Safety tips to prevent hypothermiahypothermia

Always keep head coveredAlways keep head covered If clothes get wet, change into dry If clothes get wet, change into dry

ones immediatelyones immediately Wear clothes in layersWear clothes in layers Don’t sit on ground if taking a breakDon’t sit on ground if taking a break Limit periods of inactivity in cold Limit periods of inactivity in cold

conditionsconditions

Safety tips to prevent Safety tips to prevent hypothermiahypothermia

Maintain proper hydration and Maintain proper hydration and nutritionnutrition

Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and nicotineAvoid alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine Make a shelter if it begins to rainMake a shelter if it begins to rain Make camp Make camp beforebefore becoming becoming

exhaustedexhausted Carry high-energy foodsCarry high-energy foods

Other heat related problemsOther heat related problems

FrostbiteFrostbite DehydrationDehydration Small children and elderly in hot Small children and elderly in hot

carscars SunburnSunburn

Frostbite

Freezing of body tissues Severity depends on air

temperature, length of exposure, and wind

Can cause the loss of body parts Signs of frostbite:

Loss of feeling (numbness) Skin appears waxy Skin is cold to the touch Skin is discolored

Frostbite

First aid: Warm the area by soaking in warm

water (105 degrees) Don’t rub affected area Loosely bandage area after it has

regained color and warmth Gauze between fingers and toes Don’t break blisters