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Hot Weather – Injuries


Heat Cramps



Symptoms

  • Muscle cramps (arms, legs, and/or stomach)
  • Heavy sweating (wet skin)
  • Extreme thirst

Treatment

  1. Move victim to a shady area and loosen clothing
  2. Have the victim drink water
  3. Watch the victim. Continue to provide water if he/she accepts it
  4. Get medical help if cramps continue

Heat Exhaustion

 

Symptoms

  • Heavy sweating with pale, moist, cool, or hot skin
  • Weakness
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Heat cramps
  • Nausea (with or without vomiting/diarrhea)
  • Tunnel vision
  • Chills (goose bumps)
  • Rapid breathing
  • Confusion
  • Tingling of the hands and/or feet

Treatment

  1. Move the victim to a cool, shady area and loosen/remove clothing
  2. Have the victim slowly drink water
  3. Elevate the victim’s legs
  4. Get medical help if symptoms continue
  5. Watch the victim until symptoms are gone or medical help arrives

Heat Stroke

 

Symptoms

  • Hot
  • Disoriented
  • Delirious
  • Unconscious
  • Heat exhaustion (see above)
  • No sweating (red, flushed, hot, dry skin)

Treatment

  1. Move the victim to a cool, shady area and loosen or remove clothing
  2. Start cooling the victim immediately
  3. Immerse victim in water, fan to cool victim, and massage extremities and skin with cool water
  4. Elevate the victim’s legs
  5. Have the victim slowly drink water if he/she is conscious
  6. Medical Emergency – evacuate to medical facility immediately

Cold Weather – Hypothermia

 

Initial Symptoms

  • Shivering
  • Dizzy, drowsy
  • Withdrawn behavior
  • Irritability
  • Confusion
  • Slowed, slurred speech
  • Altered vision
  • Stumbling

Severe Stages

  • Stops shivering
  • Desire to lie down and sleep
  • Heartbeat and breathing is faint or undetectable
  • Unconsciousness followed by DEATH

Treatment

  1. Prevent further cold exposure
  2. Evacuate immediately if severe hypothermia
  3. Remove wet clothing
  4. Rewarm by any means possible
  5. Give warm, sweet liquids if conscious
  6. Minimize handling of the unconscious victim so as to not induce a heart attack