The Red Cross lists three heat emergencies: heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke.
Heat cramps are the first and mildest stage. Symptoms include painful muscle spasms and/or cramps, usually in the stomach or legs. The best treatment is to cease all activity and get in the shade. Sip water or a sports drink to rehydrate. You might also want to stretch the cramped muscle, maintaining the stretch for several seconds. Follow up with light massage to the afflicted area, repeating the process if needed. Resumption of activity is fine once the symptoms are gone, providing there are no additional signs of heat-related illness.
Less serious than heatstroke, but still dangerous, heat exhaustion is caused by loss of body fluids, which in turn causes diminished blood flow to vital organs. Although the body temperature remains about normal, the body goes into shock. Symptoms include profuse sweating, pale skin that is moist to the touch and either flushed or red, headache, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, and general exhaustion.
Treatment for heat exhaustion starts with getting yourself or the afflicted person out of the sun and into a cooler spot. Replace fluids by slowly drinking a half glass of water every quarter hour. Do not drink anything with alcoholic or caffeine content – including caffeinated soft drink – which will only worsen the condition. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cold compresses (wet cloths such as towels or wet sheets or a commercial variety). IV fluids and/or additional medical care may be needed if the afflicted person is unable to drink, vomits or loses consciousness. Call 9-1-1 or a local emergency number.
With heatstroke, the body's temperature control system – it's thermostat, if you will – ceases working. This can result in a rise in body temperature sufficient to cause brain damage or even death if the body is not cooled quickly enough. Symptoms include dry skin that is hot and red; mental confusion or unconsciousness; a pulse that is rapid and weak; and shallow, rapid breathing.
Get medical help quickly by calling 911 or a local emergency number. Move the afflicted person out of the sun and into a cooler spot. The victim should be lying down. Do what you can to lower the body temperature quickly: wrap cool, wet sheets around the body; wrap ice packs or cold packs in cloth and position them on wrists, ankles, armpits and neck; use a fan, if you have one; place a cool, wet cloth on the forehead. Meanwhile, monitor breathing and keep the airway clear.
– Linda Hoff
