heatstroke

Quick Overview

• What to do in case of heat stroke and heat collapse? Remove affected persons from the heat / sun, store flat (with raised legs), cool (eg with damp cloths), give fluid if the affected person does not vomit; stable lateral position in unconsciousness; Resuscitation during respiratory arrest
• Heat stroke and heat collapse – risks: u. a. Drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, circulatory collapse with unconsciousness
• When to the doctor? Since the condition can quickly worsen when heat stroke, always call the ambulance. In case of heat collapse, a doctor is necessary if the symptoms intensify and / or the person becomes unconscious.

Attention!

• Do not leave people with (suspected) heat stroke or heat collapse alone. Especially in the case of a heat stroke, the condition of the person affected can suddenly worsen!
• To reduce body temperature, never place ice packs directly on the affected person’s skin, but always with a cloth in between (danger of frostbite!).
• Do not give sufferers alcohol to drink.

Heat stroke and heat collapse: what to do?

You should react quickly in both cases. However, especially important is the first aid in case of heat stroke, because the condition of the person affected can quickly become life-threatening.

Heatstroke: what to do?

In a heat stroke (medical hyperthermia syndrome) creates a build-up of heat inside the body, which raises the body temperature to more than 40 degrees Celsius. There are two forms:

• classic heat stroke: It mainly affects the elderly.
• Effective heat stroke: It can occur during physical activity in high heat, in people of all ages.

In both cases of heat stroke, the first aid looks like this:

1. In the shadows: Bring the person out of the sun and cool if possible, so that the body can cool down.
2. Shock situation in full consciousness: Store a conscious person in shock – ie on the back and with raised legs. This improves blood circulation in the brain (which may be reduced in the case of a heat stroke due to low blood pressure).
3. Stable lateral position in unconsciousness: If the heat stroke patient loses consciousness, check respiration and heart rate. If both are present, put him in the stable side position.
4. Loosen clothes: Open tight clothing of the victim (for example, shirt collar, tie, belt, etc.).
5. Cool: Try to cool the overheated body with wet wipes or cool packs (cool packs) that you place on your arms, legs, neck and groin – from there you can spread the coolest.
6. Lukewarm drinks: If the person is clear-minded, feels no nausea and does not vomit, you should swallow lukewarm (not cold!) Liquid (such as water, mild juice spritz, tea). This is to compensate for the fluid loss through the typical heat stroke sweating. In case of nausea and vomiting, however, do not infuse any liquid – there is a risk of the person being swallowed (aspiration).
7. Revival: If the person does not breathe, start reviving immediately. Continue this until the ambulance arrives or the affected person breathes independently again.

Heat collapse: what to do?

A heat collapse (heat exhaustion) is caused by heavy sweating at high temperatures. At the same time drinking too little, the body loses a lot of fluid and salts (electrolytes). This means an enormous burden on the circulation – possible consequences are circulatory collapse and unconsciousness. Physical activity in heat increases the risk of heat collapse.

The first aid looks like this:

• Get out of the heat: Bring the person out of the heat.
• Shock position: Lay the person on his back and store his legs higher than the heart.
• Cool: If necessary, fan it or put damp cloths on arms, legs, neck and groin. Exception: no additional cooling if the affected person is already shivering anyway.
• Electrolyte-containing drinks: Give the sufferer (if he does not vomit) plenty of fluids to drink with minerals. This should compensate for the loss of fluid and electrolyte. Suitable is, for example, water, mineral water or tea with a little salt (about 1 teaspoon of cooking salt per liter) or broth (bouillon).

Children with heat stroke or heat collapse

First aid measures in children with heat stroke or heat collapse are in principle the same as in adults. It is important to know that children are at particular risk for heat stroke and heat-related collapse (especially infants). The reason: Your body can not regulate the temperature as effectively as an adult. In addition, many children forget when playing and romping often on sunscreen and adequate drinking.

Therefore, make sure that the offspring regularly drinks and breaks in the shade or in the house. If there is a heat stroke or heat collapse, call the ambulance (especially if you suspect heat stroke) and perform the above-mentioned first aid measures (bring the child to a shady, cool place, lower body temperature with wet compresses, etc.). ).

Heat stroke and heat collapse: symptoms and risks

Symptoms at heatstroke are depending on severity:

• hot, dry (!) skin (the affected person can not sweat anymore)
• Body temperature over 40 degrees Celsius
• dizziness
• a headache
• Nausea, vomiting
• disorientation
• low blood pressure
• accelerated heartbeat
• accelerated breathing
• muscle cramps
• Awareness disorders such as dizziness to unconsciousness

As a result of heat stroke, the brain can swell due to water retention – it develops a life-threatening brain edema. Therefore, if you do not recognize and treat heat stroke symptoms in time, the person can die within a short time!

One heat exhaustion Similar to a heat stroke, it causes symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, accelerated heart rate and low blood pressure. However, the affected person’s skin is not dry, but moist – the affected person sweats heavily.

Due to the strong sweat-related fluid loss, the blood volume decreases. The blood vessels then contract, so that those organs that need a lot of oxygen (eg brain, kidneys), are still supplied. But hands and feet are less well supplied: they appear cold, pale and sweaty.

Symptoms in children

The above-mentioned heat-collapse and heat-stroke symptoms also occur in affected children. For a baby or toddler, there may be other signs that something is wrong. These include refusal to eat and conspicuous behavior (such as irritability or indifference, shrill cries).

Heat stroke and heat collapse: When to the doctor?

In case of a heat collapse you should call an (emergency) doctor if the symptoms of the person affected worsen or he loses consciousness.

In case of heat stroke (or suspicion) you should in any case immediately alert the ambulance. For the person affected, it can quickly become life-threatening! He must therefore be treated and monitored in the hospital.

Heat stroke and heat collapse: Examinations at the doctor

Both heat and heat stroke, a doctor can usually detect very quickly – based on the symptoms and the information from the first meeting (Anamnese). In this conversation, the doctor asks the patient or accompanying persons about the previous situation. For example, has the patient been doing sports in high heat or in the blazing sun just before the onset of symptoms? Did he wear warm clothes that favored a heat accumulation? Questions about possible underlying diseases are also part of the anamnesis interview.

After the conversation follows one physical examination, Body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate are particularly important. They help the doctor to further assess the condition of the patient and the severity of the heat illness.

The doctor will measure body temperature in the rectum. Because of the bad circulation situation with heat stroke / heat collapse, the skin is often no longer sufficiently supplied with blood. A temperature measurement in the armpit would then be too low.

With simple neurological tests the doctor can check the brain function of the patient. This is especially necessary in case of (suspected) heat stroke. For example, the doctor checks with simple questions, whether the patient can orientate himself in place and time. He also tests the reflexes of the brainstem, such as the pupil reflex.

Especially during a heat stroke further investigations are generally necessary:

blood tests show whether there is a deficiency or excess of certain salts (electrolytes) in the blood due to heat stroke. Of these results immediate therapy depends – a strong shift in the electrolyte balance must be treated immediately. Certain blood levels may also indicate damage to important organs (liver, kidneys, heart) resulting from the heat stroke shock.

To exclude other causes of a circulatory collapse, the doctor may electrocardiogram (ECG). This may also indicate any cardiac arrhythmia, which may be due to the large salt and fluid deficiency in a heat stroke.

If the doctor suspects a brain edema as a result of heat stroke, are for clarification Imaging procedures necessary. These include magnetic resonance imaging (magnetic resonance imaging, MRI) and computed tomography (CT).

Heat stroke and heat collapse: treatment by the doctor

At a heat exhaustion should be resolved as quickly as possible the resulting lack of fluid and electrolyte. It helps a lot of drinking. If necessary, the doctor can also give the patient an infusion. The rapid replacement of liquid and salts stabilizes the circulation. After a few days of rest and peace, most of those affected are completely well again.

The heatstrokeTreatment should always take place in the hospital, in severe cases even in the intensive care unit. First, it is important to stabilize the circulation of the patient by the administration of infusions. In addition, the greatly increased body temperature is lowered by cooling measures. For example, the patient can be immersed in cold water, provided that his vital functions (such as breathing and circulation) are stable.

Depending on severity, heat stroke may require further treatment, such as seizure medication.

How long a heat stroke lasts depends on its severity. With early treatment, the symptoms can subside and disappear after a few hours. But it may be that sufferers then feel limp for some time afterwards. Some days of protection are therefore advisable, also to prevent a relapse.

The majority of sufferers withstand heat stroke and heat loss without permanent damage.

Prevent heat stroke and heat collapse

If you want to prevent heat stroke and heat collapse, you should first know who is particularly susceptible to such heat diseases. First and foremost, these are people whose body’s temperature regulation is not or no longer completely effective. These include babies, (small) children and the elderly. Even people who spend a long time in tight and poorly ventilated rooms when working with heat have a higher risk. This applies, for example, to certain occupational groups (miners or the metalworking industry, sauna masters, etc.).

In addition, physical activity in the blazing sun increases the likelihood of heat stroke and heat collapse. This concerns, for example, road construction workers. Equally endangered are athletes who train under intense sunlight or in humid-hot air or compete in competitions.

The most important tips for preventing heat stroke and heat collapse are:

• Do not expose yourself to high temperatures for a long time. Find a cool, shady place especially at lunchtime.
• Try to avoid direct sunlight for a long time. Wear a hat in the sun.
• As an athlete, you should not train at the greatest midday heat, but rather in the morning or evening hours.
• Drink enough with heat – about two to three liters per day!
• Wear air-permeable, loose clothing when hot.
• Avoid alcohol and heavy meals at high temperatures.
• Do not leave children alone and for long periods in a car parked in the sun.
• Make sure that your child enjoys regular drinking and resting breaks in the shade in hot weather.

Note the regional heat warnings of the German Weather Service. This is especially true if you are susceptible to heat stroke and heat collapse, or have children.