First Aid International

Overexposure to Heat and Cold

Factors affecting heat and cold related illnesses are:

  1. humidity
  2. wind
  3. clothing
  4. living conditions
  5. work environment
  6. age
  7. physical activity
  8. individuals health.

Over exposure to the heat includes:

  1. heat exhaustion / heat stress
  2. heat stroke.

Heat exhaustion

The most common causes of heat related illnesses are exercising strenuously for long periods of time and working in the hot environment. This causes the casualty to lose fluid through sweating which in turn reduces the amount of water in the body and causes the blood volume to fall. Increasing blood flow to the skin to cool the casualty, reduces blood flow further and the vital organs are then affected.

Signs and Symptoms

  1. Cool, moist, pale skin
  2. normal or below normal skin temperature
  3. Rapid, weak pulse
  4. Sweating
  5. Headache
  6. Nausea
  7. Weakness
  8. Dizziness.

Treatment

  1. Rest the casualty lying down in a shaded area with legs elevated
  2. Loosen any tight clothing
  3. Give small amounts of clear, cool fluids
  4. Sponge the skin with cool water
  5. It is necessary to seek medical assistance if the casualty does not recover or vomits and is unable to keep fluids down.

Heat stroke

This is a condition described when the body’s systems cease to function because the body is unable to cool itself due to the low levels of fluid. This causes the temperature to rise rapidly and can lead to convulsions, unconsciousness and death.

Signs and Symptoms

  1. High body temperature
  2. Red, hot, dry skin
  3. Deteriorating conscious state
  4. Strong pulse initially progressing to a weak and irregular pulse as the blood volume drops.

Treatment

  1. Rest the casualty lying down in a shaded area
  2. Cool the body with cool water or ice packs in the areas of the body where the pulses can be felt, remember the 10 minute rule
  3. Give cool, clear fluids only when fully conscious
  4. Seek urgent medical assistance.

Frostbite

This occurs when the skin and underlying tissue becomes frozen. It can be a progressive injury perhaps affecting the skin such as in superficial frostbite, or it can be considered deep frostbite when the underlying tissues and skin are frozen. The water between the cells freezes and swell and can damage those cells, leading to the loss of fingers, toes, arms, legs etc.

Treatment

  1. Never rub the affected area
  2. Take the casualty to shelter before removing any clothing
  3. Immediately rewarm the affected area with skin to skin transfer or immerse the area in a container of warm water
  4. Apply a very light dressing ensuring that toes and fingers are not going to stick together
  5. Elevate the affected area
  6. Seek medical assistance.

Hypothermia

This is a condition in which the entire body cools to below 35 degrees. As the temperature continues to fall below 28 degrees the heart starts to beat erratically and death may occur. This is brought about due to the fact that the body’s warming mechanism has failed.

Signs and Symptoms

  1. Shivering
  2. Slow pulse
  3. Numbness
  4. Decreased level of consciousness
  5. Abnormal coordination.

Treatment

  1. Remove the casualty to a warm dry place, remove the clothing, dry the casualty and put on dry clothing if available
  2. Rewarm the casualty by using heating devices such as hot water bottles, blankets or your own body heat
  3. Ensure you do not rewarm too quickly as this may cause dangerous heart rhythms
  4. Give the casualty warm fluids to drink. No alcohol
  5. Call 000
  6. Handle gently.

    7. Contact First Aid International - 1300 36 56 75

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