Exercising and Competing in the Heat--Safe Summer Outdoor Workouts

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Now that you understand the mechanisms involved in hyperthermia, you’ll need to recognize it in yourself and others. Warning signs of heat exhaustion include dizziness, profuse sweating, weakness, dehydration, parched throat and hot red skin.

Warning signs of heat stroke are headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea, pale dry skin, decrease in sweating, fatigue, blurred vision, pounding head, fainting and tingling sensation (goose bumps) on the trunk. Here’s how to treat these symptoms.

Treatment of Heat Exhaustion

1.     Do not try to compete through these symptoms. Stop!

2.     Find shade and pour water on the victim.

3.     Seek medical help.

4.     Raise your legs to get blood to the brain. (Raise heels 8-12 inches)

5.     Keep victim lying down.

6.     Give victim cold water to drink for 1 hour.

7.     Loosen or remove clothing.

8.     Sponge bare skin with cold water or rubbing alcohol.

9.     Use fan or air conditioner to create draft over victim’s body.

Treatment of Heat Stroke

1.     Same as 1-5 above.

2.     Treat for shock, but do not cover victim with blankets.

3.     Take immediate measures to cool body quickly as for steps 7, 8 and 9 above.

4.     Or apply cold ice packs or ice continuously.

5.     Or place victim in tub of cold water.