Heat Exhaustion

Heat
The human being suffers a variety of reactions when exposed to high temperatures.  Usually there are three different forms of this reaction. They are called "heat cramps," "heat exhaustion" and "heat stroke." They may occur during exposure to the heat from the sun in climates where the sun is especially hot, and they occur particularly to people who have not been acclimated by exposure to the sun gradually over a long period of time. After a while the body accustoms itself to heat by a decline in the amount of sodium in the perspiration.

Heat Cramps
Heat cramps occur in those who have sweated excessively and taken excessive amounts of water. The condition usually occurs in stokers and miners. Chief among the symptoms is pain which is due to a spasm of the muscles of the body. The taking of dilute salt solution instead of water for drinking purposes prevents heat cramp with certainty.

Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion comes usually during excessively hot weather and is accompanied by changes in the circulation of the blood. The chief symptom of heat exhaustion is weakness and faintness which may go on to the coming of actual unconsciousness. The sweating is profuse, but the temperature of the body does not change.

It is easy to prevent heat exhaustion by reducing the amount of physical activity during excessively hot weather and by regulating the atmosphere by the use of electric fans or other similar devices. Whenever anyone is exposed to excessive sweating during the hot weather, dilute salt solutions should be taken instead of ordinary drinking water.

Heatstroke Or Sunstroke

The chief manifestations of heat stroke or sunstroke include rapidly mounting fever and a dry skin. Under such conditions the temperature of the body may go as high as 110 or even 112. With these high temperatures comes apathy and, finally, the person becomes unconscious. Apparently this disorder is more common in old people and in alcoholics. 


Heat stroke is also fairly frequent during the first few days of a heat wave when people keep right on working hard without regard to the height of the temperature. The condition occurs more often with a high humidity than when there is low humidity. The recommendation has been made that hospitals keep available tubs filled with water and ice, so that persons with heat stroke may be cooled off as rapidly as possible by being immersed in cold water and given massage to promote circulation of the blood at the same time. Just as soon as the high temperature is brought down to 100 degrees, the person is put in bed and the temperature is controlled by the use of wet sheets and an electric fan. 


The purpose of this is to stop as rapidly as possible the effects of the heat on the vital organs of .the body. Under such circumstances everything possible is done to keep the heart and circulation of the patient in working condition.