1 / 26

Heat Emergencies

Heat Emergencies. Prepared by: Steven Jones, NREMT-P. Thermoregulation. Homeostasis requires stable temperature ~98.6ºF Control mechanism Hypothalamus Peripheral thermoreceptors Balance between heat production, heat loss. Heat Production. Metabolism Voluntary large muscle movement

rebecca
Download Presentation

Heat Emergencies

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Heat Emergencies Prepared by: Steven Jones, NREMT-P

  2. Thermoregulation • Homeostasis requires stable temperature • ~98.6ºF • Control mechanism • Hypothalamus • Peripheral thermoreceptors • Balance between heat production, heat loss

  3. Heat Production Metabolism Voluntary large muscle movement Shivering

  4. Heat Induced Illness • Results from: • Increase in body temperature outside normal range • Prolonged efforts to compensate; profuse sweating • Dehydration

  5. Hyperthermia • Caused by • Overwhelmed thermoregulatory system • Environmental conditions (exogenous) • Excessive exercise (endogenous) • Excessive clothing • Drugs ? ? • Methamphetamines are notorious for causing a rapid ↑ in body temperature • Failure of thermoregulatory system • CVA

  6. Heat-Related Illness • Heat Cramps • Heat Exhaustion • Heat Stroke

  7. Heat Cramps

  8. Heat Cramps • Pathophysiology • Hot environment causes profuse sweating • Na+ (sodium) lost in sweat • Lack of Na+ causes muscle cramping

  9. Heat Cramps • Signs/Symptoms • Patient usually in good condition; working in hot, humid environment • Cramps of fingers, arms, legs, abdominal muscles • Nausea • Normotensive, mild hypotension • Tachycardia • Cool, pale skin • Awake, alert, normal body temperature

  10. Heat Cramps • Management • Move to cool place, rest, lie down • Give balanced salt/water solution (Electrolyte Solution) • Salt alone leads to increased nausea, increased water loss • Water alone leads to worsened cramping (dilutional hyponatremia)

  11. Heat Cramps • Management • IV NaCl if patient too nauseated to drink • Avoid massaging muscles • Avoid activity • Increase fluid, Na+ intake

  12. Heat Exhaustion

  13. Heat Exhaustion • Pathophysiology • Increased vascular space due to vasodilation • Decreased blood volume due to sweating • Decreased CNS perfusion

  14. Heat Exhaustion • Epidemiology • People working in hot, humid environments • Elderly, due to decreased thirst mechanism • Hypertensives, due to medication effects

  15. Heat Exhaustion • Signs/Symptoms • Headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, confusion • Weakness, syncope • Profuse perspiration, pallor • Tachycardia, hypotension, tachypnea • Orthostatic changes • Normal core temperature

  16. Heat Exhaustion • Management • Move to cool place, stop activity, lie down • Supine, legs elevated • Sponge with cool water, fan • Balanced salt/water (electrolyte) solution, or • IV with NaCl, if too nauseated to drink • Assess glucose if altered mental status

  17. Heat Exhaustion • Management • Transport indicated if: • Loss of consciousness occurs • Underlying cardiovascular disease • Oxygen, EKG monitor if transport indicated

  18. Heat Stroke

  19. Heat Stroke Altered LOC + Hot Environment = THINK - Heat Stroke

  20. Heat Stroke • Pathophysiology • Body heat accumulation leads to increased temperature above 1060F • Increased temperature damages hypothalamus: • Heat regulating mechanism failure occurs • 25 - 50% mortality in elderly

  21. Types of Heat Stroke • Exertional Heat Stroke • Occurs in healthy, young people in hot environments • Heat builds up faster than it is removed • Damage to hypothalamus occurs • Patient sweats heavily

  22. Types of Heat Stroke • Classic Heat Stroke • Elderly, alcoholics, obese, heart disease patients, phenothiazine users • Body heat builds up slowly over several days • Dry skin, absence of sweating

  23. Heat Stroke • Signs/Symptoms • Headache, dizziness, irritability • Decreased LOC, seizures • Bounding pulse progressing to rapid, weak pulse • Hypotension secondary to vasodilation Presence or absence of sweating is NOT a reliable sign

  24. Heat Stroke • Management • Secure airway • High concentration oxygen • Rapid cooling to 1020 F • IV NaCl • Avoid volume in classic heat stroke • Exertional heat stroke may need volume replacement • Monitor EKG

  25. Heat Stroke • Management • Drugs as necessary • Glucose for hypoglycemia • Diazepam for seizures, PRN • Reassess for secondary complications • Cardiac dysrhythmias • Pulmonary edema • Rapid Transport

  26. Heat Emergencies

More Related