heat exposures problems

1. Prepare by M.Sc .Nursing
Ayoub A. Abdul Majeed

2. Heat emergencies are health crises caused by exposure to hot weather and sun.
Why Do Heat Emergencies Happen?
Heat emergencies usually occur when someone has exercised too much in hot weather. Being
confined or trapped in a place that heats up, such as a car, is also a cause of heat emergencies
Heat emergencies are more common in:
people who are overweight
people who have been drinking alcohol
older adults
children
These risk factors are due to difficulty regulating the internal
body temperature.

3. • Heat emergencies are easily preventable by taking precautions in hot
weather. If the problem isn't addressed, heat cramps (caused by loss
of salt from heavy sweating) can lead to heat exhaustion (caused by
dehydration), which can progress to heatstroke
Heatstroke, the most serious of the three, can cause shock, brain
damage, organ failure, and even death.

4. • Overexposure to the sun or a sunlamp
can result in sunburn.

5. Caution
If there is extensive blistering, or other skin damage,
seek medical advice
Sings of sunburn Recognition
1. Reddened skin
2. Pain in the area of the burn
3. Later there may be Blistering of the affected skin

6. First Aid to Sun Burn:
1- Cover the casualty’s skin with light clothing or a towel. Help her
move out of the sun or, if at all possible, indoors.
2- Encourage the casualty to have frequent sips of cold water. Cool the
affected skin by dabbing with cold water. If the area is extensive,
the casualty may prefer to soak the affected skin in a cold bath for
ten minutes.
3- If the burns are mild, calamine or an after-sun lotion may soothe
them. Advise the casualty to stay inside or in the shade. If sunburn
is severe, seek medical advice.

7. Sunburn can be prevented by:
 staying in the shade
 wearing protective clothing
Regularly applying high sun protection factor sunscreen
or sun block.
Most sunburn is superficial; in severe cases, the skin is lobster-red
and blistered. In addition, the casualty may suffer from heat
exhaustion or heatstroke.

8. Heat Exhaustion
• This disorder is caused by loss of salt and water from the body through
excessive sweating (water depletion & sodium depletion)
It usually develops gradually and often affects people who are not acclimatized
to hot, humid conditions. People who are unwell, especially those with illnesses
that cause vomiting and diarrhea, are more susceptible than others to
developing heat exhaustion.
Salt depletion heat exhaustion tends to occur in unacclimatized individuals who
replace fluid losses with large amounts of hypotonic solutions.
Heat Exhaustion

9. Heat Exhaustion :
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
• Muscle cramps
• Dizziness
• Mild confusion
• Fast heart rate or breathing
• Headache
• Irritability
• Extreme thirst
• Nausea or vomiting
• Pale skin
• Heavy sweating
• Fainting

11. 1. Help the casualty to a cool, shady place. Get him to lie down and
raise and support his legs to improve blood flow to his brain.
2. Give him plenty of water to drink. Oral rehydration salts or
isotonic drinks will help with salt replacement.
3. Monitor and record vital signs—level of response, breathing, and
pulse. Even if the casualty recovers quickly, advise him to seek
medical help.
4. If the casualty’s vital signs worsen, call 062122 for emergency
help. Monitor and record vital signs—level of response, breathing,
and pulse while you are waiting for help to arrive.
First Aid to Heat Exhaustion

12. • Heat Exhaustion
• To treat heat exhaustion, you should:
• Move to a cooler area, out of direct sunlight.
• Loosen clothing.
• Apply cool, wet towels to your face, neck, chest, and limbs.
• Have someone fan your skin.
• Drink cool water or sports drinks every 15 minutes.
• Don’t drink too quickly.

13. Heat Stroke
• A medical emergency, this condition is caused by a failure of the
“thermostat” in the brain to regulate body temperature.
• The body becomes dangerously overheated, usually due to a high fever or
prolonged exposure to heat.
• Heatstroke can develop with little warning, resulting in unconsciousness
within minutes of the casualty feeling unwell.
Heat Stroke

17. Caution
• If the casualty loses consciousness, and is not breathing (or is just gasping),
begin CPR with chest compressions.
• Recognition:  (signs and symptoms )
1. Headache, dizziness, and discomfort.
2. Restlessness and confusion.
3. Hot, flushed, and dry skin.
4. Rapid deterioration in the level of response.
5. Full, bounding pulse.
6. Body temperature above 40°C.

18. 1. Quickly move the casualty to a cool place. Remove as much of his outer
clothing as possible. Call 062122 for emergency help.
2. While waiting for emergency help, assist the casualty to sit down, supported
with cushions. The best way to cool the casualty is to spray him with water
and then fan him, repeatedly. A cold, wet sheet may also work, and ice packs
in the armpits and groin may be affective.
3. Once the casualty’s temperature appears to have returned to normal, replace
the wet sheet with a dry one.
First Aid to Heat Stoke

19. First Aid to Heat Stoke
o Heatstroke is a life-threatening emergency. Call 911 or go to an emergency room
immediately. In the meantime:
o Move the person to a cooler area, out of direct sunlight.
o Loosen clothing.
o Remove any sweaty clothing.
o Apply cool, wet towels to the face, neck, chest, and limbs.
o Apply ice, if you have it, to the underarms, wrists, and groin.
o Fan the person’s skin.
o Offer cool water or sports drinks every 15 minutes if the person is conscious.
o Monitor and record vital signs—level of response, breathing, pulse, and temperature while
waiting for help. If the casualty’s temperature rises again, repeat the cooling process.

20. Call 9-1-1 if :
 The person loses consciousness at anytime
 There is any other change in the person's alertness (for example,
confusion or seizures)
 Fever (temp above 104 degrees Fahrenheit)
 The person shows signs of shock (bluish lips and fingernails and
decreased alertness)
 Other symptoms of heat stroke are present (like rapid pulse or
rapid breathing)
 The person's condition does not improve, or worsens despite
treatment

21. How Can Heat Emergencies Be Prevented?
1. Wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing in hot weather.
2. Rest frequently and seek shade when possible.
3. Avoid exercise or strenuous physical activity outside during hot or
humid weather.
4. Drink plenty of fluids every day. Drink more fluids before, during, and
after physical activity.
5. Be especially careful to avoid overheating if you are taking drugs that
impair heat regulation, or if you are overweight or elderly.

22. Any Question?