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Overexposure to the sun or heat can lead
to cramps, exhaustion and even death. Proper protection is essential for
preventing heat and sun related illness. Prevention is simple, effective
and by far preferable to treatment. Proper prevention measures
significantly reduce probability of sun related illness. Your actions in
identifying and reacting to the signs of heat related illness could mean
the difference between life and death.
The Sun and Radiation
Over-exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays can have detrimental effects
on your skin. Here are some tips you may follow to reduce the risks of
skin cancer:
· Avoid midday sun (10:00am to 4:00pm)
· Apply a waterproof sunscreen (SPF of 15 or greater)
· Wear tightly woven clothing to block sunlight
· Wear a broad brimmed hat to shadow face, neck and ears
Also keep in mind that:
· Sunlight reflected from snow and concrete increases the intensity of
light on your skin
· Light cloud cover will not block or protect you from ultraviolet
sunlight
· Water does not filter most ultraviolet light, thus being underwater
(e.g. Snorkeling) will not protect you from the sun
Heat Related Illness
Overexposure to heat, humidity or over exertion of the body can lead to
heat related illness. This usually takes one of three forms:
Heat Cramps
Heat Exhaustion
Heat Stroke
Heat Illness Prevention
Prevention is the best defense against heat injuries:
· Avoid heavy physical exertion in hot conditions.
· Wear loose fitting, tightly woven and light colored clothing.
· Drink adequate fluids to replace your water loss when working hard in
the outdoors. Tomato or orange juice is suitable.
· The danger of heat injury increases with higher humidity, age and the
ingestion of alcohol or drugs.
· If you begin to feel ill or develop cramps, get out of the sun
immediately and rest in a cool environment until you feel better.
Dialing 911
If a person requires emergency medical care, dial 911 and ask for an
ambulance. You will immediately be transferred to an Emergency Medical
Services (EMS) dispatcher. The dispatcher will ask important questions
about the patient to determine the appropriate response to the scene, to
pre-alert the ambulance crew of the situation and to provide you with
instructions before the ambulance arrives.
The EMS Dispatcher may ask you for:
· Your location and telephone number
· The patient complaint or type of incident
· The Approximate age, sex
· Conscious? Yes/No
· Breathing? Yes/No
· Alert? Yes/No
· Chest pains? Yes/No
· Skin changing color? Yes/No
· Skin temperature?
You must stay on the line until the dispatcher tells you to hang up. Have
any medications or medical information you know about the patient ready
when the paramedics arrive.
Heat Cramps
Heat cramps occur most commonly in the most worked muscles after heavy
exercise in the heat. A high level of humidity, recent ingestion of
alcohol, or being over the age of forty may increase the likelihood of
heat cramps.
Treatment for Heat Cramps
· Remove the patient from the hot environment. Take the patient into
the shade or into a cool sheltered area.
· Have the patient sit or lie down to rest the cramping muscles. The
patient should attempt to gently stretch the affected muscles.
· Encourage the patient to drink orange or tomato juice, a soft drink or
a commercially available sodium balanced thirst quencher. Do not give
liquids to a patient who is unconscious or not alert.
· Remove any sweat with a damp cloth.
· If patient does not get better within 30 minutes, seek further medical
attention. Dial 911 if necessary and ask for an ambulance. The paramedic
dispatcher will give you further instructions.
Do not provide the patient with more water since this may further dilute
the salt levels in the body. It is also not advisable to give the patient
a salt water mix or salt tablets since these may have other negative
effects on the patient.
Heat Exhaustion
Excessive loss of bodily fluids due to prolonged sweating, especially in a
hot environment, can lead to heat exhaustion.
Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion
· Headache
· Fatigue
· Vomiting
· Nausea
· Thirst
· Giddiness
· Profuse sweating
·
The patient is usually cold and damp to the touch and skin may appear
gray.
Treatment of Heat Exhaustion
· Remove the patient from the hot environment. Take the patient into
the shade, or preferably, into a sheltered, air conditioned environment.
· Remove any extra clothing and loosen any clothing which is tight or
restrictive.
· Urge the patient to lie down.
· If the patient is conscious and alert, provide suitable fluids such as
tomato or orange juice, soft drinks or other commercially available sodium
balanced thirst quenchers.
Further medical attention is highly recommended. Dial 911 and ask for the
ambulance. The paramedic dispatcher will give you further instructions.
Heat Stroke
Heat stroke occurs when the body is subjected to more heat than the
body can possibly handle. Heat stroke is a serious medical condition and
may lead to death without immediate emergency medical attention.
In heat stroke, body temperature rises too quickly resulting in the death
of body tissue.
Symptoms of Heat Stroke
· Chills
· Nausea
· Vomiting
· Throbbing in the head
· disorientation
· slowing down of sweating
· The patient may eventually become unconscious.
Treatment of Heat Stroke
The patient's life depends on rapid emergency medical care. Dial 911
and ask for an ambulance. The dispatcher will give you further
instructions.
The patient's body must be cooled as rapidly as possible. Remove the
patient from the hot environment and remove any excessive clothing while
waiting for the ambulance. |
