Chart

Heat illnesses and their symptoms1,2,3

Medical Symptom(s) Causes Safety Tips Condition Heat rash  Red cluster of pimples • Blockage of sweat • Remove the affected person ducts from heat. Minimize  Blisters exposure of skin to sun. Keep  Itching the affected area dry. Seek  Red rash on the skin that medical attention if rash does usually occur on the neck, not improve. chest, breast and/or groin Heat edema • Swelling in the ankles, feet • Occurs in persons • Elevate and apply and hands who are not compressive stockings to • Body temperature normal acclimatized to heat the affected limbs. or elevated core temperature • Increased blood up to 104° F flow to the skin in limbs

Heat • Respiratory problems, such • Hyperventilation • Remove the affected person as breathing difficulty from the heat and advise the • Respiratory person to breathe slowly. • Muscular problems, including alkalosis spasms or numbness or tingling of muscles • Body temperature normal or elevated core temperature up to 104° F Heat cramps • Muscle spasms • Drinking liquid • Stop all activities, without electrolytes relocate to a cool • Muscles usually affected location, rest and drink include the abdomen, calf, • electrolyte containing fluids. thighs and shoulder muscles • Electrolyte Seek medical attention if • Body temperature normal deficiency symptoms persist. or elevated core temperature up to 104° F Heat • Dizziness • Increased blood • Lay the affected person flow to the skin gently on the floor and • Fainting resulting in provide lots of fluid. Seek • Body temperature normal decreased blood medical attention. or elevated core temperature flow to the central up to 104° F nervous system Heat • Profuse sweating • Drinking liquid • Stop all activities, exhaustion • Weakness without electrolytes relocate to a cool location, rest and drink • Rapid breathing • Dehydration electrolyte containing • Dizziness • Electrolyte fluids. • Nausea/vomiting deficiency • It can be difficult to • Muscle cramps determine if someone has • Normal mentation and not • Body temperature normal exhaustion. or elevated core temperature • If symptoms do not quickly up to 104° F improve, or unable to oral rehydrate, seek medical attention.

Heat stroke  Oral body temperature of 104˚F • Profound • Call 911 immediately if you and above dehydration see anyone with these This is a life symptoms and has a body  Often sudden onset of symptoms • Profound threatening, temperature of 104˚F and electrolyte deficiency of  or loss of above. exposure to consciousness • Body is unable • While waiting for first extreme heat, to maintain heat  Rapid and strong pulse responders, the affected usually occurring diffusion through the person should be taken to a when the body  Hot, red and dry skin skin cool shady area. temperature  Headache • Normal regulation of • Cool the person with is greater than 104˚F. immersion in cool water,  Dizziness body temperature is no longer intact spraying the person with cool  Nausea/vomiting water while fanning the • Mortality can be as person vigorously, or placing high as 50% ice packs on neck, axilla, and groin. • The person is unlikely to be able tolerate oral fluids.

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006). Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Extreme Heat. Retreived April 17, 2012, from http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/faq.asp. 2. Platt, M. and Vicario, S. (2010). Heat Illness. In Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice, 7th Ed. p1882-3. 3. Zimmerman JL, Hanania NA. (2005). Chapter 111. . In: Hall JB, Schmidt GA, Wood LD, eds. Principles of Critical Care. 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Chart courtesy of Minnesota Department of Health: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/climatechange/docs/toolkit_chapter2.pdf