Heat Stroke is an acute medical emergency
caused by failure of the heat-regulating mechanisms of the body. It usually
occurs during extended heat waves, especially when they are accompanied by high
humidity. People at risk are those not acclimatized to heat, those who are
elderly or very young, those unable to care for themselves, those with chronic
and debilitating diseases, and those taking certain medication (eg. Tranquilizers,
anticholinergics, diuretics and beta-blocking agents). Excertional heat stroke
occurs in healthy individuals during sports or work activities, ex. exercising
in strong heat and humidity.
Hyperthermia results because of inadequate heat loss. This type of heat
stroke can also cause death.
Most heat related deaths occur in the
elderly, because their circulatory systems are unable to compensate for stress
imposed by heat. Elderly people have decreased ability to perspire as well as a
decreased thirst mechanism to compensate for heat. The risk for heat stroke is
greater among the elderly because many elderly people do not drink adequate
amounts of fluid, partly because of fear of incontinence. In addition, many elderly
people fear being victims of crime, so they tend to keep windows closed, even
when the temperature and humidity levels are high.
Heat stroke causes thermal injury at the
cellular level, resulting in coagulopathies and widespread damage to the heart,
liver and kidneys. Recent patient history reveals exposure elevated ambient
temperature or excessive exercise during extreme heat.
Common sign and symptoms of heat stroke are:
·
high
body temperature
·
the
absence of sweating, with hot red or flushed dry skin
·
hypotension
·
rapid
pulse
·
difficulty
breathing
·
strange
behavior
·
hallucinations
·
confusion
·
agitation
·
disorientation
·
seizure
·
coma
Preventing
Heat Stroke
· Avoid
reexposure to high temperature; hypersensitivity to high temperature may remain
for a considerable time.
· Emphasize
the importance of maintaining adequate fluid intake, wearing loose clothes and
reducing activity in hot weather.
· Advise
athletes to monitor fluid losses and weight loss during workout activities or
exercise and to replace fluids.
·
Plan
outdoor activities to avoid the hottest part of the day.
· Take extra precautions with certain medications. Be on the
lookout for heat-related problems if you take medications that can affect your
body's ability to stay hydrated and dissipate heat.
·
Never leave children or anyone else in a parked car. This is a common
cause of heat-related deaths in children. When parked in the sun, the
temperature in your car can rise 20 degrees F (more than 6.7 C) in just 10
minutes. It's not safe to leave a person inside a parked car in hot weather for
any period of time, even if the windows are cracked or the car is in the shade.
When your car is parked, keep it locked to prevent a child from getting inside.
The most
important measures to prevent heat strokes are to avoid becoming dehydrated and
to avoid vigorous physical activities in hot and humid weather.
The primary goal is to reduce the high
temperature as quickly as possible, because mortality is directly related to
the duration of hyperthermia.
Methods to
Treat Heat Stroke Victim
·
Get
the victim to a shady area, remove clothing, apply cool or tepid water to the
skin (for example, you can spray the victim with cool water from a garden
hose), fan the victim to promote sweating and evaporation, and place ice packs
for the armpits and groin.
·
If
the person is able to drink water, drink them cool water or cool drinks that do
not contain alcohol or caffeine.
· Monitor
body temperature with a thermometer and continue cooling efforts until the body
temperature drops to 101-102 F (38.3 to 38.8 C).
· Always
notify emergency services (911) immediately. If their arrival is delayed, they
can give you further instructions for treatment of the victim.