HEAT EMERGENCIES

Heat emergencies occur when the body is unable to adequately dissipate heat. Hyperthermic patients should be cooled immediately with a lukew arm-water spray and cool moving air. Patients with heat exhaustion res pond well to administration of intravenous fluids. Patients with heats troke have a complete loss of thermoregulation, a core temperature gre ater than 40.5-degrees-C (105-degrees-F) and impaired mental status. T hese critically ill patients must be cooled quickly to 39-degrees-C (1 02-degrees-F) to avoid devastating complications. Intensive care monit oring and support are indicated. To reduce the risk of heat injury in hot weather, frail and elderly persons must maintain hydration and may need to consider alternate living arrangements. Laborers, athletes an d military personnel benefit from gradual acclimation to the heat, inc reased fluid intake, vapor-permeable clothing and frequent rest period s.