Heat Exhaustion vs. Heat Stroke

Posted on June 30, 2023 in Public Education, Public Safety

People who are exposed to extreme heat or work in hot environments may be at risk of heat stress. Exposure to extreme heat can result in illnesses and injuries. Heat stress can result in heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, or heat rashes. Heat can also increase the risk of injuries as it may result in sweaty palms, fogged-up glasses, and dizziness. Burns may also occur as a result of accidental contact with hot surfaces or steam.

People at risk of heat stress include people who enjoy the outdoors and workers in hot environments such as firefighters, bakery workers, farmers, construction workers, miners, boiler room workers, factory workers, and others.

People at greater risk of heat stress include those who are 65 years of age or older, are overweight, have heart disease or high blood pressure, or take medications that may be affected by extreme heat.

Prevention of heat stress is important. Everyone should understand what heat stress is, how it affects their health and safety, and how it can be prevented. It is also imperative to know how to identify the signs of onset heat stress. Below are some ways to identify heat exhaustion and heat stroke, as well as how to address these conditions.

Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to an excessive loss of water and salt, usually through excessive sweating. Heat exhaustion is most likely to affect:

The elderly
People with high blood pressure
Those working in a hot environment

Symptoms

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

Headache
Nausea
Dizziness
Weakness
Irritability
Thirst
Heavy sweating
Elevated body temperature
Decreased urine output

First Aid

Treat a worker who has heat exhaustion by doing the following:

Take worker to a clinic or emergency room for medical evaluation and treatment.
Call 911 if medical care is unavailable.
Have someone stay with the worker until help arrives.
Remove the worker from the hot area and give liquids to drink.
Remove unnecessary clothing, including shoes and socks.
Cool the worker with cold compresses or have the worker wash their head, face, and neck with cold water.
Encourage frequent sips of cool water.

Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body can no longer control its temperature: the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. When heat stroke occurs, the body temperature can rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause permanent disability or death if the person does not receive emergency treatment.

Symptoms

Symptoms of heat stroke include:

Confusion, altered mental status, slurred speech
Loss of consciousness (coma)
Hot, dry skin or profuse sweating
Seizures
Very high body temperature
Fatal if treatment delayed

First Aid

Take the following steps to treat a worker with heat stroke:

Call 911 for emergency medical care.
Stay with the worker until emergency medical services arrive.
Move the worker to a shaded, cool area and remove outer clothing.
Cool the worker quickly, using the following methods:

- With a cold water or ice bath, if possible
- Wet the skin
- Place cold wet cloths on the skin
- Soak clothing with cool water

Circulate the air around the worker to speed cooling.
Place cold wet cloths or ice on the head, neck, armpits, and groin; or soak the clothing with cool water.