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Heat and Cold Related Heat and Cold Related InjuriesInjuries
Prevention and First AidPrevention and First Aid
Heat Related DifficultiesHeat Related Difficulties
Heat Cramps Least severe of the three types
of heat related difficulties Painful muscle spasms Usually occur in the legs and
abdomen
Heat Related DifficultiesHeat Related Difficulties
Heat CrampsHeat Cramps A result of loss of electrolytes A result of loss of electrolytes
(sodium and potassium) from (sodium and potassium) from perspiring (sweating assists our perspiring (sweating assists our bodies in cooling off)bodies in cooling off)
Heat Cramps - Prevention Heat Cramps - Prevention and First Aidand First Aid
Best way to deal with heat cramps is Best way to deal with heat cramps is prevention:prevention:
Add a little extra salt at meals Add a little extra salt at meals (getting enough salt is rarely a (getting enough salt is rarely a problem in the typical American dietproblem in the typical American diet
Eat foods rich in potassium - Eat foods rich in potassium - bananas, apricots, orange juice, bananas, apricots, orange juice, nuts, tomato juicenuts, tomato juice
Condition yourself graduallyCondition yourself gradually
Heat Cramps – Prevention Heat Cramps – Prevention and First Aidand First Aid
First AidFirst Aid for heat cramps: for heat cramps: Have victim rest (sit or lie Have victim rest (sit or lie
down) in a cool placedown) in a cool place Give cool waterGive cool water Light massage and stretchingLight massage and stretching
Heat ExhaustionHeat Exhaustion
More serious than heat crampsMore serious than heat cramps Similar to shockSimilar to shock PreventionPrevention
Drink plenty of fluids - plain Drink plenty of fluids - plain water is best before, during and water is best before, during and after exerciseafter exercise
Again, increase sodium and Again, increase sodium and potassium naturallypotassium naturally
Heat ExhaustionHeat Exhaustion
Avoid Gatorade and similar sports Avoid Gatorade and similar sports drinks as they actually inhibit fluid drinks as they actually inhibit fluid replacement, unless the activity is replacement, unless the activity is prolonged (over an hour).prolonged (over an hour).
Treatment for Heat Exhaustion
Treat mild cases the same as heat cramps (except do not stretch the muscles).
If persistent, gently apply wet towels and call EMS.
Heat StrokeHeat Stroke
Also known as sunstrokeAlso known as sunstroke The most serious of the heat-related The most serious of the heat-related
problemsproblems Usually occurs in very hot Usually occurs in very hot andand humid humid
weatherweather The body can’t cool itself adequatelyThe body can’t cool itself adequately
Heat StrokeHeat Stroke
PreventionPrevention On days that are going to be On days that are going to be
hot and humid, run early or late hot and humid, run early or late in the day, avoiding the hottest in the day, avoiding the hottest partpart
Consume plenty of fluids Consume plenty of fluids before, during and afterbefore, during and after
Heat StrokeHeat Stroke
Recognize heat stroke symptoms in Recognize heat stroke symptoms in othersothers
Hot, dry, flushed skinHot, dry, flushed skin DizzinessDizziness HeadacheHeadache Mental confusionMental confusion
Heat Stroke TreatmentHeat Stroke Treatment
Objective is to cool victim as quickly as Objective is to cool victim as quickly as possiblepossible
Get victim out of the heat; half-Get victim out of the heat; half-sitting positionsitting position
Loosen tight clothingLoosen tight clothing Remove perspiration soaked Remove perspiration soaked
clothingclothing If humidity is below 75%, Apply cool, If humidity is below 75%, Apply cool,
wet cloths to skin or spray with wet cloths to skin or spray with water; if humidity is 75%+, apply ice water; if humidity is 75%+, apply ice packs on neck, armpits, groin.packs on neck, armpits, groin.
Heat Stroke TreatmentHeat Stroke Treatment
Fan the victimFan the victim If victim is conscious, give cool If victim is conscious, give cool
waterwater Call for ambulance if victim Call for ambulance if victim
refuses water, vomits, or starts refuses water, vomits, or starts to lose consciousnessto lose consciousness
Cold-Related Emergencies
Biological defense mechanisms to maintain body temperature during exposure to cold: Vasoconstriction Shivering
Vasoconstriction
Vasoconstriction is the tightening of blood vessels in the exposed skin
Reduced skin blood flow conserves body heat, but at a price: Discomfort Numbness Loss of dexterity in the hands, fingers,
and other extremities Eventually cold injuries
Shivering
Shivering increases internal heat production and helps to offset the heat being lost.
Body’s main involuntary defense against the cold.
Shivering produces body heat by forcing muscles to contract and relax rapidly.
About 80% of the muscle energy used in shivering is turned into body heat.
Shivering reflex stops when the core body temperature falls to about 86 degrees F.
HypothermiaHypothermia
Life-threatening conditionLife-threatening condition Main cause of death for many Main cause of death for many
outdoor recreational activities such outdoor recreational activities such as snowmobiling, skiing, hiking and as snowmobiling, skiing, hiking and backpackingbackpacking
Hypothermia - the body’s core Hypothermia - the body’s core temperature drops below 95 degreestemperature drops below 95 degrees
Hypothermia
Signals of hypothermia: Shivering Numbness Glassy stare Apathy Loss of consciousness
HypothermiaHypothermia
The temperature does not have to be The temperature does not have to be below freezing for hypothermia to below freezing for hypothermia to occur, e.g. 50 degrees on land and occur, e.g. 50 degrees on land and 70 degrees or less in the water70 degrees or less in the water
Factors in HypothermiaFactors in Hypothermia moisturemoisture windwind fatiguefatigue improper clothingimproper clothing
Hypothermia
Other factors in the development of hypothermia:
Age, e.g. elderly people in poorly heated homes
Alcohol Diseases, e.g. C-V disease, diabetes Length of exposure
Ways in which the body Ways in which the body loses heatloses heat
RespirationRespiration - exhalation of - exhalation of warm air removes a small warm air removes a small amount of body heatamount of body heat
RadiationRadiation - any uncovered body - any uncovered body surface will give up heat to the surface will give up heat to the surrounding air, head and neck surrounding air, head and neck mostlymostly
Ways in which the body Ways in which the body loses heatloses heat
ConvectionConvection - wind current - wind current blowing across body will blowing across body will accelerate temperature loss by accelerate temperature loss by quickly removing radiated heatquickly removing radiated heat
Ways in which the body Ways in which the body loses heatloses heat
EvaporationEvaporation - Perspiration or - Perspiration or moisture on skin drying will have a moisture on skin drying will have a cooling effectcooling effect
ConductionConduction - when sitting on the - when sitting on the ground or leaning next to a cold or ground or leaning next to a cold or wet object, heat will be absorbed wet object, heat will be absorbed from the body.from the body.
Safety tips to prevent Safety tips to prevent hypothermiahypothermia
Always keep head coveredAlways keep head covered If clothes get wet, change into dry If clothes get wet, change into dry
ones immediatelyones immediately Wear clothes in layersWear clothes in layers Don’t sit on ground if taking a breakDon’t sit on ground if taking a break Limit periods of inactivity in cold Limit periods of inactivity in cold
conditionsconditions
Safety tips to prevent Safety tips to prevent hypothermiahypothermia
Maintain proper hydration and Maintain proper hydration and nutritionnutrition
Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and nicotineAvoid alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine Make a shelter if it begins to rainMake a shelter if it begins to rain Make camp Make camp beforebefore becoming becoming
exhaustedexhausted Carry high-energy foodsCarry high-energy foods
Other heat related problemsOther heat related problems
FrostbiteFrostbite DehydrationDehydration Small children and elderly in hot Small children and elderly in hot
carscars SunburnSunburn
Frostbite
Freezing of body tissues Severity depends on air
temperature, length of exposure, and wind
Can cause the loss of body parts Signs of frostbite:
Loss of feeling (numbness) Skin appears waxy Skin is cold to the touch Skin is discolored
Frostbite
First aid: Warm the area by soaking in warm
water (105 degrees) Don’t rub affected area Loosely bandage area after it has
regained color and warmth Gauze between fingers and toes Don’t break blisters