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Heat Emergencies
Alternate Names : Heatstroke
Definition Heat emergencies fall into three categories of increasing severity: heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke.
Pictures & Images
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Overview & Considerations
Heat illnesses are easily preventable by taking necessary precautions in hot weather.
Children, elderly, and obese people have a higher risk of developing heat illness. Also, people taking certain medications or drinking alcohol have a higher risk. However, even a top athlete in superb condition can succumb to heat illness if he or she ignores the warning signs.
If the problem isn't addressed, heat cramps (caused by loss of salt from heavy sweating) can lead to heat exhaustion (caused by dehydration), which can progress to heatstroke. Heatstroke, the most serious of the three, can cause shock, brain damage, organ failure, and even death.
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Jump to another section
• Definition
• Heat Emergencies: Overview & Considerations
• Heat Emergencies: Causes
• Heat Emergencies: Symptoms & Signs
• Heat Emergencies: Prevention
• Heat Emergencies: First Aid
• Heat Emergencies: Do Not
• Call Immediately for Emergency Medical Assistance if
• Pictures & Images
Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
• Dehydration
Other Topics
• Alcohol Use
• Breathing Difficulty
• Cardiovascular
• Consciousness - Decreased
• Convulsions
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle Cramps
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Obesity
• Physical Activity
• Pulse - Weak or Absent
• Seizures
• Shock
• Skin - Clammy
• Skin Discoloration - Bluish
• Sweating - Excessive
• Thirst - Excessive
• Unconsciousness - First Aid
• Urine - Bloody
• Weakness
Review Date : 8/22/2003
Reviewed By : Jacqueline A. Hart, M.D., Senior Medical Editor, A.D.A.M., Inc. Previously reviewed by Todd Severson, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (2/05/2002).
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