Recognizing Symptoms of Heat-Related Illnesses: Important Information
Here’s what you need to know to stay safe as temperatures rise.
WASHINGTON — We will see near record heat for your Labor Day holiday. Since many people will be out and about Monday taking advantage of the long weekend, WUSA9 meteorologists have issued a Weather Watch Alert.
To keep you safe, we want to make sure you know the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses. Here’s a breakdown from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.
Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness, according to the CDC. 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, health officials say.
Symptoms of heat stroke include:
Take the following steps to treat someone with heat stroke:
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:
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
Treat a person who has heat exhaustion by doing the following:
Rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo) is a medical condition associated with heat stress and prolonged physical exertion. Rhabdo causes the rapid breakdown, rupture, and death of muscle. When muscle tissue dies, electrolytes and large proteins are released into the bloodstream. This can cause irregular heart rhythms, seizures, and damage to the kidneys.
Symptoms of rhabdo include:
Workers with symptoms of rhabdo should:
Heat syncope is a fainting (syncope) episode or dizziness that usually occurs when standing for too long or suddenly standing up after sitting or lying. Factors that may contribute to heat syncope include dehydration and lack of acclimatization.
Symptoms of heat syncope include:
Workers with heat syncope should:
Heat cramps usually affect workers who sweat a lot during strenuous activity. This sweating depletes the body’s salt and moisture levels. Low salt levels in muscles cause painful cramps. Heat cramps may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion.
Muscle cramps, pain, or spasms in the abdomen, arms, or legs.
Workers with heat cramps should do the following:
Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather.
Symptoms of heat rash include:
Workers who have heat rash should:
The CDC tracks heat exposure data and heat-related illnesses nationwide with this map.
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