Heat exhaustion is the common form of heat-related illness. It typically occurs after long periods of strenuous exercise or work in a hot environment. The body's temperature-regulating mechanism is overwhelmed and results in the victim losing fluid through sweating leading to a decrease in blood volume. Because the circulatory system is affected, the person develops mild shock.

The symptoms of heat exhaustion may include:
* normal or below normal skin temperature
* cool, moist, pale skin progressing to red skin
* headache
* nausea
* dizziness and weakness

* exhaustion
* sweating
* rapid, weak pulse

Care for Heat Exhaustion

1. Encourage the victim to rest lying down with the legs slightly raised. Loosen any tight clothing.

2. If fully conscious, give small drinks of cold water to drink. If the victim is vomiting and unable to take any fluids, arrange for urgent medical treatment.

3. If unconscious, position the victim on the side and care of the airway, breathing and circulation.

Heat stroke is the least common and most severe heat emergency. It develops when the body systems are overwhelmed by heat and begin to stop functioning. Sweating stops because body fluid levels are low. When sweating stops, the body cannot cool itself effectively, and body temperature rapidly rises. A level can soon be reached where the brain and other vital organs, such as the heart and kidneys, begin to fail. If the body is not cooled, convulsions, unconsciousness and death may result.

Heatstroke is a serious medical emergency. You must recognize the signs of this heat-related illness and provide care immediately.

The signs of heatstroke include:
* high body temperature
* red, hot, dry skin
* progressive deterioration in the conscious state
* full, bounding pulse
* rapid, shallow, noisy breathing

Care for Heatstroke

1. Stop the person from continuing any activity.
2. Cool the body. N.B. Do not use ice or very cold water to cool the victim; this will cause shivering and make them hotter.
3. Give cool, clear fluids if the victim is fully conscious.
4. Minimise shock.
5. Seek urgent medical care.

The recognition of heat-related illnesses in their early stages is required in order to reverse their bad effects. Always take care to remove the victim from the hot environment if possible; it is essential that the body be cooled down. Administering fluids is also extremely important and cool water is often the best choice as it less likely to cause vomiting.

If the victim is experiencing extreme discomfort an ambulance should be called immediately. In extreme cases CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) may have to be performed if the heart is failing.

(For reasons of accuracy a First Aid manual was referred to in the composing of this article.)

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