TRAINING PACKAGES 03\

FOR HEALTH EMERGENCIES

Module 3:
Environmental Injuries

Session 4: Heat-Related
Problems

Standard First Aid

(SFA)
21/08/2019 1
 Objectives
At the end of this session, the participants should be
able to:

• Determine if a person is suffering from heat-

related emergencies by detecting their respective
signs and symptoms.
• Apply first aid to persons suffering from these
heat-related emergencies.

TRAINING PACKAGES FOR

Standard First Aid (SFA) HEALTH EMERGENCIES 03\
 Heat-related problems can
develop in people who are
exposed to hot environments
for longer than the body can
tolerate.

TRAINING PACKAGES FOR

Standard First Aid (SFA) HEALTH EMERGENCIES 03\
 Types of Heat Related Illnesses
• Heat Cramps

• Heat Exhaustion

• Heat Stroke

TRAINING PACKAGES FOR

Standard First Aid (SFA) HEALTH EMERGENCIES 03\
Heat Cramps: Signs and Symptoms
▪ Painful tightening of muscles after
prolonged use

▪ Heavy sweating leading to electrolyte

imbalance and muscle tightening

TRAINING PACKAGES FOR

Standard First Aid (SFA) HEALTH EMERGENCIES 03\
Heat Exhaustion: Signs and Symptoms
▪ pale, moist, cool skin

▪ dry tongue, thirst

▪ dizziness, faintness

TRAINING PACKAGES FOR

Standard First Aid (SFA) HEALTH EMERGENCIES 03\
Heat Exhaustion: Signs and Symptoms
▪ irritability, confusion

▪ weakness

▪ nausea (with or without vomiting)

▪ headache

▪ rapid pulse

▪ normal or slightly high body temperature

TRAINING PACKAGES FOR

Standard First Aid (SFA) HEALTH EMERGENCIES 03\
 Heat Stroke: Signs and Symptoms
▪ skin is flushed, hot, dry

▪ rapid, weak pulse and breathing

▪ can lead to death if untreated

TRAINING PACKAGES FOR

Standard First Aid (SFA) HEALTH EMERGENCIES 03\
HEAT CRAMPS HEAT EXHAUSTION HEAT STROKE
• Less severe type • most common heat-related emergency • most serious
• painful tightening of • heat exposure causes heavy sweating heat-related
muscles after leading to water loss, electrolyte illness
prolonged use imbalance • striking change
• heavy sweating • Inadequate intake of water in behavior
leading to • pale, moist, cool skin leads to loss of
electrolyte 9consciousness
• dry tongue, thirst
imbalance and • skin is flushed,
muscle tightening • dizziness, faintness hot, dry
• irritability • rapid, weak
• confusion pulse and
breathing
• Weakness • can lead to
• nausea (with or without vomiting) death if
• headache untreated
• rapid pulse
• normal or slightly high body temperature

TRAINING PACKAGES FOR

Standard First Aid (SFA) HEALTH EMERGENCIES 03\
 Heat Cramps: Management
▪ Move victim to the coolest possible place
▪ Have him rest, drink plenty of cold fluids
(electrolyte beverages)
▪ Stretching, applying cold packs, and
massaging the painful muscle until it relaxes.
▪ Loosen tight clothing
▪ If with persistent cramps, bring victim to
nearest health care facility

TRAINING PACKAGES FOR

Standard First Aid (SFA) HEALTH EMERGENCIES 03\
 Heat Exhaustion: Management
▪ Move victim to the coolest possible place
▪ Loosen victim’s clothing
▪ Apply cold packs to neck, groin, armpits
▪ Have victim lie down, elevate legs
▪ If awake: give cold fluids to drink
▪ DO NOT give caffeinated, alcoholic drinks
▪ For unresolved symptoms, bring victim to
nearest health care facility

TRAINING PACKAGES FOR

Standard First Aid (SFA) HEALTH EMERGENCIES 03\
 Heat Stroke: Management

▪ Move victim to coolest possible place

▪ Check for ABC
▪ Loosen victim’s clothing
▪ Apply cold packs to neck, groin, armpits
▪ Call of emergency medical assistance
immediately
▪ Place victim in comfortable position
▪ DO NOT force victim to drink
▪ Cover victim with cold, wet towels or sheets
then bring victim to the nearest health care
facility as fast as possible
TRAINING PACKAGES FOR
Standard First Aid (SFA) HEALTH EMERGENCIES 03\
 Management
HEAT CRAMPS HEAT EXHAUSTION HEAT STROKE
Move victim to coolest possible place
Loosen victim’s clothing
Apply cold packs to neck, groin, armpits
•Have him rest, drink •Have victim lie down, • Call of emergency medical
plenty of cool fluids elevate legs assistance immediately
(electrolyte beverages) •If awake: give cool •Check ABC
•Stretching, applying fluids to drink •Place victim in comfortable
cold packs and •DO NOT give position
massaging the painful caffeinated, alcoholic •DO NOT force victim to drink
muscle until it relaxes. drinks •Cover victim with cold, wet
•Loosen tight clothing •For unresolved towels or sheets then bring
•If with persistent symptoms, bring victim victim to the hospital as fast as
cramps, bring victim to to hospital possible
hospital

TRAINING PACKAGES FOR

Standard First Aid (SFA) HEALTH EMERGENCIES 03\
 Objectives
Were we able to meet the objectives?

• Determine if a person is suffering from heat-

related emergencies by detecting their respective
signs and symptoms.
• Apply first aid to persons suffering from these
heat-related emergencies.

TRAINING PACKAGES FOR

Standard First Aid (SFA) HEALTH EMERGENCIES 03\
 Questions?

TRAINING PACKAGES FOR

Standard First Aid (SFA) HEALTH EMERGENCIES 03\
 References
• American Heart Association 2015 Guidelines,
accessed at eccguidelines.heart.org
• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety,
accessed at
https://www.ccohs.ca/Oshanswers/phys_agents/hea
t_health.html
• American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s
Manual, accessed at
https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/at
g/PHSS_UX_Content/FA-CPR-AED-Part-Manual.pdf

TRAINING PACKAGES FOR

Standard First Aid (SFA) HEALTH EMERGENCIES 03\