Heat Exhaustion Tips!
Heavy sweating
- Paleness
- Muscle cramps
- Tiredness and weakness
- Dizziness or fainting
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
What to do:
- Rest in a cool, preferably air-conditioned, area
- Loosen clothing
- Cool down with a shower, bath or sponge bath
- Drink plenty of non-alcoholic and caffeine-free beverages
- Seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or last more than one hour
Heat stroke (life threatening)
Symptoms:
- Extremely high body temperature (above 103° F orally)
Red, hot and dry skin (no sweating)
- Rapid pulse
- Throbbing headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Unconsciousness
What to do:
- Call for immediate medical assistance.
- Move the victim to a cool or shady area.
- Cool the victim rapidly using whatever methods you can (For example: Immerse the victim in a tub of cool water; place in a cool shower; spray with cool water from a garden hose or sponge with cool water. Avoid the use of fans).
- Monitor body temperature, and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102° F.
- Do not give the victim alcohol to drink.
- Get medical assistance as soon as possible.
Additional information on preventing heat-related illness is available through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services? web site at www.dhss.mo.gov. |
