HEAT AND COLD EMERGENCIES

Different Types of Heat Related Injuries

1. Heat Cramps – are muscular spasms that occur when the body losses too much salt
during profuse sweating, when not enough salt is taken into the body, when calcium
levels are low and when too much of the body’s water is consumed. They can also be
caused by overexertion of muscles and inadequate stretching or warm up during exercise.
Muscles remain firm when contract.

Signs and Symptoms of Heat Cramps

A. Hot, sweaty skin with normal body temperature, normal blood pressure and
normal mental status
B. Rapid heartbeat
C. Exhaustion and fatigue
D. Possible nausea and vomiting
E. Faintness and dizziness

Emergency Care for Heat Cramps

A. Do emergency care to the patient

- Apply moist towel to the fore head and over the cramping muscles and
massage.
- Elevate the feet
- Give patient isotonic fluids

2. Heat Exhaustion

Signs and Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion

A. Warm, moist and flushed skin

B. Nausea and vomiting
C. Dizziness and weakness
D. Syncope
E. Profuse to heavy sweating
F. Muscle perfusion
G. Weak and rapid pulse
H. Fatigue and thirst

Emergency Care for Heat Exhaustion

A. Do emergency care to the patient

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 - Remove patient from source of heat
- Place patient in semi-fowlers position
- Loosen clothing
- Give patient isotonic fluids

B. Continue to monitor vital signs.

C. Transport patient to the hospital if necessary.

3. Heat Stroke – Because no cooling takes place, the body stores increasingly more heat
that speed up the heat producing mechanism, which eventually damage the brain cells
causing permanent disability or death

Signs and Symptoms of Heat Stroke

A. Hypotension
B. Tachycardia
C. Seizures

Emergency Care for Heat Stroke

A. Check level of consciousness

B. Do emergency care to the patient

- NPO
- Place patient in trendelenburg position

C. Continue to monitor vital signs.

Hypothermia – body temperature falls when the body cannot produce heat as fast as it is
being lost. Hypothermia is a life threatening condition wherein the body core temperature falls
below the normal body temperature.

Signs and Symptoms of Hypothermia

A. Shivering
B. Altered mental status
C. Bradycardia
D. Low blood pressure
E. Apathy-lack of emotion
F. Delayed capillary refill

Emergency Care for Hypothermia

A. Scene safety and personal safety

B. Check level of consciousness

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C. Activate the emergency medical service in your locality
D. Assess Airway, breathing and circulation
E. Do emergency care to the patient

- Remove the patient from cold environment

- Handle the patient as gently as possible
- NPO
- Do warm the patient

F. Continue to monitor vital signs.

G. Transport patient to the hospital if necessary.