Heat Exhaustion: How to Prevent Associated Injuries

Heat exhaustion is a result of extreme exposure to heat during strenuous activity in humidity. Heatstroke can cause fatal injuries when symptoms persist. I discussed heatstroke in a previous post and hope my readers learned safety tips to prevent injuries during an extreme heatwave.

It is essential for nurses to educate patients about injury prevention related to heat exhaustion. Healthcare staff should encourage patients to discuss physical activities plan to prevent adverse outcomes. Most people confuse heat exhaustion with heat stroke. Therefore, I will establish the difference today in a few paragraphs and implications for nurses.

What Causes Heat Exhaustion

The condition is due to heat exposure in combination with humidity and/or strenuous activity in high temperature. It is the failure of the body to maintain core temperature i.e normal body temperature.

The human body is often unable to regulate its temperature if physically overexerted. Thus, the body loses its natural ability to cool down by producing less sweat. Furthermore, it can be alcohol-induced or associated with dehydration. If the symptoms persist, it can lead to heatstroke which is a more severe heat-related condition associated with prolonged heat exposure.

Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion

Symptoms associated with heat exhaustion can be sudden or progressive and include some of the following signs:

• Sweating
• Rapid pulse
• Moist skin
• Faintness/dizziness
• Fatigue/weakness
• Hypotension
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea and headache

Risk Factors

• Pediatric and geriatric population
• Immunocompromised individuals
• Obesity
• Heat sensitivity and individuals under certain medical treatment or prescribed drugs.

Injury Prevention and Clinical Management

Seek medical assistance if symptoms persist and become severe. Consult a medical provider before engaging in serious physical exercise to prevent injuries. You should also avoid extreme heat, protect your skin from the heat, apply sun cream, remain hydrated, wear loose clothing and avoid staying in a hot car.

Clinical management aims to reverse symptoms with fluid resuscitation, electrolytes replacement, rest, oxygen supplement, ECG, cardiac monitoring, assessment of renal function and thermoregulation. In severe cases, neurologic workup might be necessary to rule out acute brain damage.

Implications for Nurses

Nurses should ensure that emergency supplies are available upon the patient’s arrival. For instance, penlight, oxygen tubing and humidifier, pulse oximeter, blood pressure cuff, thermometer, intravenous fluid, oral fluid ( for conscious patients) venipuncture kit, Intravenous tubing, specimen tubes, and cups, ECG machine, cardiac monitoring, Intake and output log, and additional supplies as necessary.

It is the responsibility of the nurse to collect data about home medication, and past history. Furthermore, nurses should educate patients and health care partners about strategies to prevent recurring events and to prevent severe injuries in the future. The nurse will also assign a patient near the nursing station if there is evidence of neurologic changes and impaired gait.

The patient might be a high fall risk. Therefore, initiating a fall prevention bundle will be prudent. The patient’s room should be a little cool to enable thermoregulation. It is essential to monitor urine output for color, odor, concentration, and quantity. It is also crucial to review chemistry and other laboratory result and inform the provider of critical findings.

Conclusion

Untreated heat exhaustion can rapidly progress to heatstroke which is considered to be a medical emergency. It is important to follow safety measures when exposed to the heat. You should avoid prolonged exposure to the heat to prevent dehydration In addition, You should obtain medical clearance before engaging in physical activities in the heat. You can prevent organ damage related to untreated heat stroke if you follow the safety tips mentioned above.