Heat exhaustion can rapidly expand into heat stroke in only a matter of minutes. There is a very fine line between them both and once the threshold is passed, there may be no return for the victim. Total system failure begins to occur, and death can follow shortly thereafter.
Not all victims have the same symptoms. Some just become dizzy, disoriented and confused and pass out. The lucky ones begin to vomit, feeling weak and fatigued. Many times, you ignore the first symptoms, if someone is pushing you (coach, employee, fellow workers), you may begin to just feel bad and not up to par. You're dizzy and confused and have to concentrate very hard on what you are doing instead of the work coming naturally to you as it usually does.
Due to the rise in heat-related injuries and deaths that have occurred over the past several years, studies are now being conducted to determine the reason why. Without spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to find out, I can tell you the reason why. I have heard all of the reasons some think it's hotter than it used to be. It's not. It's really very simple – we have all become acclimated to air-conditioned houses, cars, schools, offices, buildings or warehouses. When the warmer weather comes, we jump right out there without conditioning ourselves beforehand. We push ourselves as well as others. Our systems kick into high gear trying to maintain our body core temperatures in the heat. Sweating profusely, we rapidly deplete our bodies of much-needed water as well as other nutrients necessary for our bodies to function properly. Once those vital nutrients are depleted, our bodies try to tell us to replenish them. If this is not done, our bodies begin to shut down– body core temperatures begin to increase, sweating ceases, disorientation begins, and now you are in BIG trouble. Do not depend on your thirst alone to tell you that you need water. It is much harder, maybe even impossible, for medical personnel to treat a heat-related injury once it reaches a certain stage. The outcome is usually death due to total system failure. Continuous exposure to extreme heat is hazardous to your health. Kidney failure, liver damage, heart failure, myocardial infarction (heart attacks) and hemorrhages in the brain can occur.
Signs of symptoms of a heat-related problem or injury:
The first symptoms of prolonged heat exposure are heat cramps caused by prolonged or excessive exercise in an environment with high temperatures. The patient sweats profusely and, if fluids are not replaced, heat exhaustion can occur. Symptoms are extreme thirst and severe cramps to the skeletal muscles, most commonly in the legs. Patients are alert and oriented with slightly elevated temperatures.
Heat exhaustion results from continuous exposure to high temperatures and continued sweating in the absence of appropriate replenishment of fluids. Symptoms are extreme thirst, irritability, fatigue, disorientation, dizziness, headache, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and muscle cramps.
Heat stroke is a true medical emergency. Body core temperatures above 104° are common. Patients with heat stroke may die within a few hours or may die later due to complications such as kidney failure, heart attack or heart failure, and bronchopneumonia. Autopsy usually shows damage to major organs such as the brain, heart, liver and kidneys.
Patients present with symptoms of headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, confusion, lack of sweat but flushed, and disorientation may lead to coma and/or death. These symptoms can cause many other industrial accidents such as machinery mishaps, elevation falls, driving accidents, and mistakes in handling hazardous materials all do to dizziness, fatigue and confusion set in by heat stress.
In 1997, I came up with a concept– a product that would not only maintain body core temperature but would also halt and begin reversing that injury when applied to a victim. The outcome of the patient is completely dependent on the stage of the heat-related injury to which they have progressed. Nothing can reverse the damage already done by a heat-related injury. In 1999, I was awarded a United States Patent for my product. It is called THE ELIMINATORª. IT is a vest that may be recharged on the user in only 30 seconds. The vest will heat as well as cool, and will decrease body temperature 34°.
I have personally witnessed it applied to a rescue diver with a body core temperature of 103°. Within five minutes, he had chill bumps all over his body, and his body core temperature had dropped to 97°.
Another vest is in the process of being developed to go under a bulletproof vest in order to protect those who risk their lives daily to keep us safe. I have developed a new pass-through system that allows the users of chemical or Hazmat suits to be recharged while still in the suit. With the daily threats of a chemical or biological attack on our nation, we want to do our part to protect those at risk as well as assist in defending our nation in any way that we can. This new system will allow those in chemical suits to stay in the contaminated area longer while, at the same time, protecting them from a heat-related problem. Ten extra minutes in a rescue attempt is a very long time, and many lives could be saved during that time– as well as the rescuers themselves!
Ref: Wilson, Braunwald, Isselbacher, Petersdorf, Martin, Fauci, Harrison's Principles of Internal medicine 12th ed., vol. 2, p. 209-211.
For more information go to www.Jenkinscomfort.com or call 888/508-6908
