Recognizing Heat Illness
By Toby Robillard
The KRT Group
Types of Heat Illnesses
Exercising in hot or humid weather can cause heat illnesses:
- Heat cramps
- Heat exhaustion
- Heat stroke
In addition to educating athletes about both the importance of hydration and the dangers of heat-related illness, ensuring they drink enough fluids, and taking precautions to reduce the risk of heat injury in hot and humid weather, you need to watch for symptoms of impending heat illness:
- Weakness
- Chills
- Goose bumps on the chest and upper arms
- Nausea
- Headache
- Faintness
- Disorientation
- Muscle cramping
- Reduced or cessation of sweating
Athletes who continue exercise when experiencing any of these symptoms could suffer a heat illness.
Heat Cramps
Overview:
- Mildest form of heat illness
- No medical attention is required
- Usually occurs during or after exercise
- Usually affects only specific muscles exercised
- Probably results from an imbalance of the body’s fluid and electrolyte concentrations caused by a loss of electrolytes in sweat
Symptoms:
- Thirst
- Chills
- Clammy skin
- Throbbing heart
- Muscle pain
- Spasms
- Nausea
Treatment:
- Move athlete to shade
- Remove excess clothing
- Have athlete drink 4 to 8 ounces of fluid with electrolytes (sport drink) every 10 to 15 minutes
- Add salt to foods (not by giving salt tablets)
Heat Exhaustion
Overview:
- More serious heat illness
- May require medical attention
- Probably results from a reduced blood volume due to excessive sweating , which causes blood to pool in extremities, causing the person to become dizzy
Symptoms:
- Nausea
- Excessive fatigue
- Reduced sweating
- Headache
- Shortness of breath
- Weak, rapid pulse
- Dry mouth
Treatment:
- Move person to a cool location
- Have person drink 16 ounces of fluid containing electrolytes (i.e. sports drink) for every pound of weight loss
- Remove sweaty clothes
- Place ice behind person’s neck
- Seek medical attention if no improvement
Heat Stroke
Overview:
- Life-threatening medical emergency requiring immediate action
- Body’s temperature-regulating processes stop functioning
- Left untreated, results in death due to collapse of circulatory system and damage to the central nervous system
- Until medical help arrives, key is to immediately lower elevated body temperature
Symptoms:
- No sweating
- Dry, hot skin
- Swollen tongue
- Visual disturbances
- Rapid pulse
- Unsteady gait
- Fainting
- Low blood pressure
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Loss of consciousness
- Shock
Treatment:
- Call 911
- Remove sweaty clothes
- Cover person in ice packs, immerse in cold water, rub with alcohol or if person in conscious, help the person take a cold shower