Heat Related Illness

Heat Exhaustion• Water Depletion• Salt Depletion

Heat Stroke• Hyperthermia• Prolonged exposure to high temperatures • Usually in combination with dehydration• Temperature > 40.6 °C• Not sweating?• Confusion•

S&S Confusion Dark-colored urine Dizziness Fainting Fatigue Headache Muscle cramps Nausea Pale skin Profuse sweating Rapid heartbeat

S&S• Confusion• Dark-colored urine• Dizziness• Fainting• Fatigue• Headache• Muscle cramps• Nausea• Pale skin• Profuse sweating• Rapid heartbeat

Heat Safety Drink at least 2 litres of water every 2-3 hours Add a little more salt to meals in summer to replace salt lost in sweat Slow down and rest in very hot weather conditions Get plenty of sleep and rest at night When you feel unwell tell your supervisor

Treatment of heat-related illness Immediately get out of the heat Rest Air-conditioned room or cool, shady place. Drink plenty of fluid Remove any tight or unnecessary clothing Cool shower, bath or spray Other cooling measures such as fans

Further readingLipman GS, Eifling KP, Ellis MA, Gaudio FG, Otten EM, Grissom CK; Wilderness Medical Society. Wilderness Medical Society practice guidelines for the prevention and treatment of heat-related illness. Wilderness Environ Med. 2013 Dec;24(4):351-61. PMID: 24140191