Heat Stroke & Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is simply defined as it sounds. Basically your body cools off by evaporation of sweat but gets “exhausted” when you produce heat faster than you can sweat it off. Heat exhaustion is characterized by fatigue, weakness, dizziness, nausea, and cool, clammy, pale or red skin.

If a situation persists, the victim’s condition may progress to a heat stroke in which the body simply quits sweating, while the internal body temperature continues to rise, in many cases to greater than 105°F (40.5º C). Persons with heat stroke may have signs of confusion, delirium, or may fall unconscious. The skin will be red or pale, and hot and dry, even under the armpits.

Treatment and Expectations: The first line treatment is immediate cooling of the victim’s body with a tepid water bath (medium cool) or covering the exposed body with towels soaked in cool water. Also have the person slowly drink lots of cool water, a little at a time.

For more information about this and other Urgent Care matters, I highly recommend The American Red

Cross First Aid and Safety Handbook .

Seek Professional Medical Attention If:
The victim has signs or symptoms of a heat stroke.
The victim has any change or decline in mental status, confusion, or loses consciousness at any time.
When in doubt.