HPR 010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 24: Heat Stroke, Heat Cramps, Water Intoxication
12 Jun 2018
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Chapter 21: Heat Related Emergencies
When the temp goes up people can develop either heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or even die from heat
stroke.
How the Body Stays Cool
- In certain cases, your body builds up too much heat and your temp might rise to life-threatening
levels, and you can become delirious or lose consciousness. This is called heat stroke. If you do
not get rid of the heat, you can suffer brain damage and other organs may fail. Before reaching
this, your body may have flulike symptoms.
- When blood delivers heat to the skin, the body loses heat primarily in two ways: radiation and
evaporation. As the environmental temp reaches the body temp, heat loss through radiation is
reduced.
- Water Loss
o Water akes up aout % to % of a adult’s body weight, and you lose 2 quarts every
day through breathing, urinating, bowel movements, and sweat. The fluid loss will be
replaced.
o A working adult can produce 2 to 3 quarts of sweat an hour for short periods and up to
10 to 15 quarts a day.
o When you are thirsty, you are dehydrated.
- Electrolyte Loss
o Sweat and urine contain potassium and sodium, essential electrolytes that control the
movement of water into and out of the cells.
o Drinking large amounts of water and profuse sweating for long periods can lead to a
condition called water intoxication, in which electrolytes are flushed from the body.
o Symptoms of water intoxication include frequent urination and behavior changes
(irrationality, combativeness, seizures, and coma). These symptoms are the result of
inadequate sodium in the body, a condition known as hyponatremia.
- Effects of Humidity
o Sweat can cool the body only if it is evaporating. The higher the humidity, the less sweat
can evaporate.
o At about 75% humidity, sweating is ineffective in cooling the body. Because humidity can
significantly reduce evaporative cooling, a very humid but mildly warm day can be more
stressful than a very hot, dry day.
o The higher the humidity, the lower the temp at which heat risk begins.
- Who Is at Risk?
o Everyone is susceptible to heat illness if environmental. Heat waves can set the stage for
heat stroke.
o Several groups are at a higher risk → people with obesity, chronic illness, alcoholism.
▪ Older people b/c of impaired cardiac output and decreased ability to sweat.
Infants and young children are susceptible to heat stroke too. Children and pets
as well when left in cars.
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
When the temp goes up people can develop either heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or even die from heat stroke. In certain cases, your body builds up too much heat and your temp might rise to life-threatening levels, and you can become delirious or lose consciousness. If you do not get rid of the heat, you can suffer brain damage and other organs may fail. Before reaching this, your body may have flulike symptoms. When blood delivers heat to the skin, the body loses heat primarily in two ways: radiation and evaporation. As the environmental temp reaches the body temp, heat loss through radiation is reduced. Water loss: water (cid:373)akes up a(cid:271)out (cid:1009)(cid:1004)% to (cid:1010)(cid:1004)% of a(cid:374) adult"s body weight, and you lose 2 quarts every day through breathing, urinating, bowel movements, and sweat. The fluid loss will be replaced: a working adult can produce 2 to 3 quarts of sweat an hour for short periods and up to.
