Medication
By Mayo Clinic Staff. Heat exhaustion is one of the heat-related syndromes. Symptoms range in severity from mild heat cramps to heat exhaustion to potentially life-threatening heatstroke. Heat exhaustion can begin suddenly or over time, usually after working or playing in the heat, perspiring heavily, or being dehydrated.
Self-care
Treatment for Heat Exhaustion. If you, or anyone else, has symptoms of heat exhaustion, it's essential to immediately get out of the heat and rest, preferably in an air-conditioned room. If you can't get inside, try to find the nearest cool and shady place.
Nutrition
There are two types of heat exhaustion: 1 Water depletion. Signs include excessive thirst, weakness, headache, and loss of consciousness. 2 Salt depletion. Signs include nausea and vomiting, muscle cramps, and dizziness. More ...
What is the definition of heat exhaustion Mayo Clinic?
If you need medical attention due to heat exhaustion, it may be apparent to medical personnel that you have heat exhaustion, or they may take your rectal temperature to confirm the diagnosis and rule out heatstroke. If your doctors suspect your heat exhaustion may have progressed to heatstroke, you may need additional tests, including:
What is the best treatment for heat exhaustion?
What are the two types of heat exhaustion?
When do you need medical attention for heat exhaustion?
Which of the following is a recommended treatment for heat exhaustion?
In most cases, you can treat heat exhaustion yourself by doing the following: Rest in a cool place. Getting into an air-conditioned building is best, but at the very least, find a shady spot or sit in front of a fan. Rest on your back with your legs elevated higher than your heart level.
What are the interventions in the treatment of heat exhaustion?
Immediate interventions include heat dissipation (removing clothing, cooling measures), intravenous fluid administration, and monitoring of vital signs (34). Monitoring core body temperature and the cerebral status is extremely important, as heat exhaustion can occasionally progress to heat stroke.
What are 3 ways to prevent heat exhaustion?
PreventionWear loosefitting, lightweight clothing. ... Protect against sunburn. ... Drink plenty of fluids. ... Take extra precautions with certain medications. ... Never leave anyone in a parked car. ... Take it easy during the hottest parts of the day. ... Get acclimated. ... Be cautious if you're at increased risk.
What is the treatment for heat exhaustion and heat stroke?
Heat exhaustion and heatstroke treatment Get out of the heat quickly and into a cool place, or at least shade. Lie down and elevate your legs to get blood flowing to your heart. Take off any tight or extra clothing. Apply cool towels to your skin or take a cool bath.
What is the first treatment for heat stroke?
Seek emergency medical carePut the person in a cool tub of water or a cool shower.Spray the person with a garden hose.Sponge the person with cool water.Fan the person while misting with cool water.Place ice packs or cool wet towels on the neck, armpits and groin.Cover the person with cool damp sheets.
Which prehospital interventions are appropriate for a patient with heat exhaustion?
Removing the patient from a heated environment is the first intervention, followed by passive cooling measures such as removing clothing and fanning air across the skin. Depending upon local protocols, hydration orally or intravenously can help restore water balance quickly.
What are the five main things you can do to prevent heat illness?
5 Ways to Prevent Heat IllnessDrink plenty of water. Drink one quart of water over an hour during the work shift. ... Wear light-weight/loose-fitting clothing. ... Take frequent breaks. ... Notify your supervisor of any personal risk factors (i.e., health, weight, age, etc.) ... Be mindful of medication side effects.
What is heat exhaustion and safety?
Exposure to extreme heat can result in occupational illnesses and injuries. Heat stress can result in heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, or heat rashes. Heat can also increase the risk of injuries in workers as it may result in sweaty palms, fogged-up safety glasses, and dizziness.
How can we protect from heat?
To avoid heat-related illnesses, wear light-weight, light-colored clothing made of breathable material, like cotton. Stay hydrated by drinking water throughout the day. Avoid strenuous outdoor activity on hot days. If you're outside, take frequent breaks in a cool place.
How do you treat heat exhaustion in toddlers?
What to Do:Bring your child to a cooler place indoors, an air-conditioned car, or shady area.Remove your child's excess clothing.Encourage your child to drink water or cool fluids containing salt and sugar, such as sports drinks.Put a cool, wet cloth or cool water on your child's skin.Call your doctor for advice.
What medicine helps heat stroke?
Dobutamine (Dobutrex) Dobutamine is a synthetic compound structurally similar to catecholamines. It is the drug of choice for circulatory support in heat stroke.
How do you treat heat cramps?
If you suspect heat crampsRest briefly and cool down.Drink clear juice or an electrolyte-containing sports drink.Practice gentle, range-of-motion stretching and gentle massage of the affected muscle group.Don't resume strenuous activity for several hours or longer after heat cramps go away.More items...
What is heat exhaustion?
Heat exhaustion is a heat-related illness that can occur after you've been exposed to high temperatures, and it often is accompanied by dehydration. American Academy of Family Physicians:. “Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke.”; CDC:. “Warning Signs and Symptoms of Heat-Related Illness.”;
How to prevent heat related illness?
Drink extra fluids. To prevent dehydration, drink plenty of water, fruit juice, or vegetable juice per day. Because heat-related illness also can result from salt depletion, it may be advisable to substitute an electrolyte-rich sports drink for water during periods of extreme heat and humidity.
What is the effect of humidity on heat?
Heat exhaustion is strongly related to the heat index, which is a measurement of how hot you feel when the effects of relative humidity and air temperature are combined. A relative humidity of 60% or more hampers sweat evaporation, which hinders your body's ability to cool itself.
How to tell if you have a heat stroke?
Signs include excessive thirst, weakness, headache, and loss of consciousness. Salt depletion. Signs include nausea and vomiting, muscle cramps, and dizziness. Although heat exhaustion isn't as serious as heat stroke, it isn't something to be taken lightly.
How do you know if you're in heat exhaustion?
The most common signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include: Confusion. Dark-colored urine (a sign of dehydration) Dizziness. Fainting. Fatigue. Headache. Muscle or abdominal cramps.
What age are people most vulnerable to heat?
Other risk factors associated with heat-related illness include: Age. Infants and children up to age 4, and adults over age 65, are particularly vulnerable because they adjust to heat more slowly than other people. Certain health conditions.
Can you exercise after heat exhaustion?
So it's best to avoid hot weather and heavy exercise until your doctor tells you that it's safe to resume your normal activities.
How to treat heat exhaustion?
Untreated, heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke, which is a life-threatening condition. If you suspect heat exhaustion, take these steps immediately: 1 Move the person out of the heat and into a shady or air-conditioned place. 2 Lay the person down and elevate the legs and feet slightly. 3 Remove tight or heavy clothing. 4 Have the person drink cool water or other nonalcoholic beverage without caffeine. 5 Cool the person by spraying or sponging with cool water and fanning. 6 Monitor the person carefully.
How do you know if you are getting heat exhaustion?
Heat exhaustion can begin suddenly or over time, usually after working or playing in the heat, perspiring heavily, or being dehydrated. Heat exhaustion signs and symptoms include: Cool, moist skin with goose bumps when in the heat. Heavy sweating.
How to cool someone in heat?
Remove tight or heavy clothing. Have the person drink cool water or other nonalcoholic beverage without caffeine. Cool the person by spraying or sponging with cool water and fanning.
How to cool a person?
Cool the person by spraying or sponging with cool water and fanning. Monitor the person carefully. Contact a doctor if signs or symptoms worsen or if they don't improve within one hour. Call 911 or your local emergency number if the person's condition deteriorates, especially if he or she experiences: Fainting.
How to get rid of heat exhaustion?
First aid for heat exhaustion: 1 Move to an air-conditioned location or a cool, shady area and lie down. Raise your legs above the level of your heart. 2 Drink cold liquid, such as water or a sports drink. 3 Mist yourself with cold water or pour cool water on your head, neck, and clothes. 4 Loosen or remove as many clothes as possible. 5 If you do not feel better in 1 hour, go to the emergency department.
How does the body's cooling system work?
Normally, the body has a cooling system that is controlled by the brain. The cool ing system adjusts to hot conditions and lowers your body temperature by producing sweat. With heat exhaustion, the body's cooling system is not working well and results in an increased body temperature.