Heat Exhaustion vs. Heat Stroke

Lady_MCSE · 06-02-2006, 08:05 AM

At my workplace, we have to have "safety huddles" every week where we talk about some safety topic. Every year about this time, I choose to do a session about heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke. I thought it was a good topic to post here too.

Heat exhuastion is less severe, and happens to many people all the time. Unfortunately though, Heat Exhaustion can progress to heat stroke very suddenly, and heat stroke is a life-threatening situation. Many of these symptoms can be applied to animals and humans alike.

Here is a listing of some of the systems as taken from the CDC's website. A link to the full article is provided below.

===================

What is heat exhaustion?

Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, those with high blood pressure, and those working or exercising in a hot environment.

What are the warning signs of heat exhaustion?

The warning signs of heat exhaustion include the following:

Heavy sweating
Paleness
Muscle cramps
Tiredness
Weakness
Dizziness
Headache
Nausea or vomiting
Fainting

What are the warning signs of a heat stroke?

Warning signs of heat stroke vary but may include the following:

An extremely high body temperature (above 103Â°F)
Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
Rapid, strong pulse
Throbbing headache
Dizziness
Nausea
Confusion
Unconsciousness

What should I do if I see someone with any of the warning signs of heat stroke?

If you see any of these signs, you may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency. Have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the victim. Do the following:
Get the victim to a shady area.
Cool the victim rapidly, using whatever methods you can. For example, immerse the victim in a tub of cool water; place the person in a cool shower; spray the victim with cool water from a garden hose; sponge the person with cool water; or if the humidity is low, wrap the victim in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously.
Monitor body temperature and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102Â°F.
If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions.
Do not give the victim alcohol to drink.
Get medical assistance as soon as possible.

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/faq.asp

lonearrow · 06-02-2006, 08:12 AM

Thanks for this. Always good to know this time of year.

Candy · 06-02-2006, 08:16 AM

Thanks for the post. That is a good topic. Everyone should know the seriousness of these two things.

I had a heat stroke 8 years ago and no one knew until I was already unconscious. It was very painful. I have also heard after the firse time it's easier for it to happen again.

Faceman · 06-02-2006, 08:27 AM

I had a heat stroke in 1980 playing in a tennis tournament in Houston in July (real smart...

). Luckily there was a swimming pool on site which cooled me down rapidly.

Problem is that ever since, I have a hard time tolerating heat, and it never used to bother me - a real bummer as I am an outdoor summertime person...

ToveroMom · 06-02-2006, 08:42 AM

People just plain do not drink enough water.
You have to drink it in the heat-if you run out of fluids then the body takes it from the tissues. You eventually run out of water to evaporate and sweat off and your body starts to heat up from the inside. You can literally bake to death.
Graphic enough for you? GOOD
Now water can be any number of things-but NOT soda[caffeine is a natural diuretic so excretes quickly] coffee,tea[unless decaffinated]
You need about 64 ozs daily-caffeine based drinks only count 1/2 towards that amount[because of the diuretic effect]
Now you can get decaf tea and coffee-soda too.
At some point though you must sadly take in some plain old water..I know I hate water too-but after moving to Houston I have had to start drinking it.

kballard · 06-02-2006, 11:14 AM

Great info., thanks

A J · 06-03-2006, 09:46 AM

Just an additional little side note to add to what TMom posted - I ended up in the "in-between" state of heat exhaustion vs heat stroke once - and although I had been drinking enough water, I had NOT been replacing my electrolytes (through things like Gatorade, etc). Obviously, under normal circumstances you don't need to add the sport drinks, but I was doing fairly physical activity, and when a break was proved, forced to stay out in the sun (not relaxing). It wasn't any fun, thankfully about the time my vision had narrowed to a very small area, things ended, and I was able to go lay down in my very cool room with a bunch of water.

This event really bothered me since I had been drinking plenty - no problems with being dehydrated, so I finally asked the doctor one time. She said that most likely, although hydrated, my body was buring electrolytes and stuff faster than they were being replaced at meals - I started adding a 50/50 water/gaterade mix into my diet and never had that problem again. But it was rather scary.

so if you are doing physical activity in extreme temps, water alone may not be enough...but you usually don't need full blown gaterade, either, the 50/50 mix should be plenty (they put more in there than you need).

06-02-2006, 08:05 AM
Lady_MCSE Seasoned Join Date: May 2005 Location: Shytown, IL Posts: 4,653	Heat Exhaustion vs. Heat Stroke At my workplace, we have to have "safety huddles" every week where we talk about some safety topic. Every year about this time, I choose to do a session about heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke. I thought it was a good topic to post here too. Heat exhuastion is less severe, and happens to many people all the time. Unfortunately though, Heat Exhaustion can progress to heat stroke very suddenly, and heat stroke is a life-threatening situation. Many of these symptoms can be applied to animals and humans alike. Here is a listing of some of the systems as taken from the CDC's website. A link to the full article is provided below. =================== What is heat exhaustion? Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, those with high blood pressure, and those working or exercising in a hot environment. What are the warning signs of heat exhaustion? The warning signs of heat exhaustion include the following: Heavy sweating Paleness Muscle cramps Tiredness Weakness Dizziness Headache Nausea or vomiting Fainting What are the warning signs of a heat stroke? Warning signs of heat stroke vary but may include the following: An extremely high body temperature (above 103Â°F) Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating) Rapid, strong pulse Throbbing headache Dizziness Nausea Confusion Unconsciousness What should I do if I see someone with any of the warning signs of heat stroke? If you see any of these signs, you may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency. Have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the victim. Do the following: Get the victim to a shady area. Cool the victim rapidly, using whatever methods you can. For example, immerse the victim in a tub of cool water; place the person in a cool shower; spray the victim with cool water from a garden hose; sponge the person with cool water; or if the humidity is low, wrap the victim in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously. Monitor body temperature and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102Â°F. If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions. Do not give the victim alcohol to drink. Get medical assistance as soon as possible. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/faq.asp __________________ "A pun is its own reword." — Dance Drier, British comedian

06-02-2006, 08:12 AM
lonearrow Long Yearling Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 1,292	Thanks for this. Always good to know this time of year. __________________ LUV 2 G8 SPAY*NEUTERADOPT**IT SAVES LIVES

06-02-2006, 08:16 AM
Candy Halter broke Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kentucky Posts: 78	Thanks for the post. That is a good topic. Everyone should know the seriousness of these two things. I had a heat stroke 8 years ago and no one knew until I was already unconscious. It was very painful. I have also heard after the firse time it's easier for it to happen again. __________________ Ride Quickly and win. Hesitate and Lose

06-02-2006, 08:27 AM
Faceman Kid Safe Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arkansas Ozarks Posts: 7,421	I had a heat stroke in 1980 playing in a tennis tournament in Houston in July (real smart... ). Luckily there was a swimming pool on site which cooled me down rapidly. Problem is that ever since, I have a hard time tolerating heat, and it never used to bother me - a real bummer as I am an outdoor summertime person...

06-02-2006, 08:42 AM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 17,059	People just plain do not drink enough water. You have to drink it in the heat-if you run out of fluids then the body takes it from the tissues. You eventually run out of water to evaporate and sweat off and your body starts to heat up from the inside. You can literally bake to death. Graphic enough for you? GOOD Now water can be any number of things-but NOT soda[caffeine is a natural diuretic so excretes quickly] coffee,tea[unless decaffinated] You need about 64 ozs daily-caffeine based drinks only count 1/2 towards that amount[because of the diuretic effect] Now you can get decaf tea and coffee-soda too. At some point though you must sadly take in some plain old water..I know I hate water too-but after moving to Houston I have had to start drinking it. __________________

06-02-2006, 11:14 AM
kballard Yearling Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Biloxi, Mississippi Posts: 711	Great info., thanks __________________ Kim Ballard Proudly owned by 2 gorgeous TWH mares: Sugar-6 and Angel-9

06-03-2006, 09:46 AM
A J Greenbroke Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vallejo, CA Posts: 3,856	Just an additional little side note to add to what TMom posted - I ended up in the "in-between" state of heat exhaustion vs heat stroke once - and although I had been drinking enough water, I had NOT been replacing my electrolytes (through things like Gatorade, etc). Obviously, under normal circumstances you don't need to add the sport drinks, but I was doing fairly physical activity, and when a break was proved, forced to stay out in the sun (not relaxing). It wasn't any fun, thankfully about the time my vision had narrowed to a very small area, things ended, and I was able to go lay down in my very cool room with a bunch of water. This event really bothered me since I had been drinking plenty - no problems with being dehydrated, so I finally asked the doctor one time. She said that most likely, although hydrated, my body was buring electrolytes and stuff faster than they were being replaced at meals - I started adding a 50/50 water/gaterade mix into my diet and never had that problem again. But it was rather scary. so if you are doing physical activity in extreme temps, water alone may not be enough...but you usually don't need full blown gaterade, either, the 50/50 mix should be plenty (they put more in there than you need). __________________ Try not, do or do not. There is no try.