HEAT ILLNESS

HEAT CRAMP

• Involuntary spasmodic contractions of large muscle groups as opposed to an

isolated muscle spasm/cramp that can also occur during or after exertion. This
condition is due to a relative deficiency of sodium, potassium, chloride, or
magnesium.
• Heat cramps may be the first sign of heat-related illness, and may lead to heat
exhaustion or stroke.
 HEAT EXHAUSTION

• Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to an excessive loss of water and salt,
usually through excessive sweating.
• Body temperature is not usually elevated at or above 40.5°C [105°F].
• Heat exhaustion can progress to life-threatening heatstroke if immediate
interventions, including removal from the hot environment, are not carried out.
 HEAT STROKES

• Heatstroke is a severe heat-related illness

that involves an elevation in body
temperature which typically, but not
always, is greater than 40 C. The patient
has clinical signs of central nervous
system dysfunction that may include
confusion, ataxia, delirium, or seizures
that are brought on after strenuous
physical exertion or exposure to hot
weather.
 EVALUATION

• CBC and clotting factors as a significant systemic inflammatory response may be

present that can progress to disseminated intravascular coagulation in severe cases
• Electrolytes and magnesium levels due to volume status abnormalities. These may
have developed if there was an unbalanced replacement of fluid losses, i.e., drinking
large quantities of water with no electrolytes
• Kidney and liver functioning testing due to the increased risk of organ injury found
with significant heat illness
• Creatinine kinase levels to evaluate for skeletal muscle injury and rhabdomyolysis
• Urinalysis to further evaluate the health of the kidneys and presence of myoglobin
• EKG, as heat illness, can provoke cardiac arrhythmias or unmask arrhythmias that
may warrant expert consultation. Glucose levels as patients with heat illness
frequently have hypoglycemia and may require carbohydrate replacement
DIFFERENCES
MANAGEMENT
 MANAGEMENT

EXTERNAL METHODS INTERNAL METHODS

• More effective
• Evaporative & immersion cooling
• Gastric, bladder, and rectal cold water lavage.
• Evaporative  a mist of cool water
(15oc) while warm air (45oc)
• Immersion cooling  ice bath, cooling
blankets
• Ice packs in axilla, neck, and head