Skill Section Wilderness First Aid Skill 817 Dehydration

Skill Section: Wilderness First Aid

Skill 8/17: Dehydration & Heat Illness

Learning Intention: To equip you with the knowledge to avoid and treat heat illnesses.

Success Criteria: By the end of this session everyone should be able to: • Describe what steps to take to avoid, recognise and treat heat-related illnesses when walking.

Activities: 1. Discussion/Powerpoint: - What is a heat illness? - What can you do to avoid them? - How should you treat them? 2. Scenario

What is a heat illness?

Heat Illnesses (“Hyperthermia”) Severity v Heat rash v Sunburn v Heat cramps v Heat exhaustion v Heat stroke American Meteorological Society Central North Carolina Chapter April 21, 2005

Heat Rash (prickly heat) Symptoms: Skin becomes reddened and may itch, feel prickly or hurt. First Aid: Practice good personal hygiene; keep the skin clean and the pores unclogged, allow skin to dry, wear loose clothing.

Sunburn Symptoms: Skin becomes reddened, pain, blistering in severe cases. First Aid: Move into shade or cover minor burns with light cloth, frequent sips of water, cool skin by sponging with water, apply after-sun.

Heat Cramps: Symptoms: Cramping of either active muscles (arms, legs) or involuntary (usually abdominal) muscles (or both). First Aid: Replenish electrolytes through drinking of fluids such as sports drinks etc. Rest in a cool environment.

Heat Exhaustion: Symptoms: Nausea, dizziness, weakness headache, blurred vision, profuse sweating, cold/wet (clammy) grayish skin, unconsciousness, coma and death. First Aid: Lie down in a cool location, administer fluids if conscious. If unconscious, seek medical care.

Heat Stroke: Symptoms: Chills, restlessness, irritability, euphoria, red face and skin, disorientation, hot/dry skin (not always), collapse, unconsciousness, convulsions and death. First Aid: Immediate, aggressive cooling of the victim’s body using wet cloths, immersion into cold water or alcohol wipes. Contact emergency services ASAP!

Avoidance

v Sun-hat and or sun-screen v Remove clothing layers v Stop & rest v Move into shade v Drink little & often to avoid dehydration

Dehydration fluid loss time* effect & symptoms (* timing may vary based on intensity of exercise and heat/humidity) 0. 75 L 1 hr 1. 5 L 2 -3 hrs loss of endurance, start to feel thirsty, feel hot, uncomfortable 2. 25 L 3 -4 hrs loss of strength, loss of energy, moderate discomfort 3 L 3. 5 -4 L 5+ L 4 -5 hrs 5 -6 hrs 7+ hrs cramps, headaches, extreme discomfort unnoticed (at 1. 5% weight loss you are considered dehydrated) heat exhaustion, nausea, faint heat stroke, collapse, unconsciousness taken from: OH&S Canada Volume 69, Number 5, page 52, May 2000

What to drink: • Water is the best; juices are also good (juices contain energy restoring glucose). • Electrolyte (sports) drinks (e. g. Powerade) are usually not needed (but can be used for first aid for cramps). • Stay away from caffeinated carbonated, diet drinks and alcohol as they take water out of your body.

How Much Water is Enough? • More than you want just to satisfy your thirst • Sources of water are: 1. Fluids – ½ pint = 250 m. L every 30 -60 min 2. Foods - fruit & veggies are 90% water • Not too cold

Eat Healthily You can and should replace essential elements lost during sweating; Eat a balanced diet rather than taking salt tablets or drinking expensive sports drinks.

Watch out for each other! • Someone heading into a heat stroke will no longer realise what is happening to him/her • It is vital that group members be able to recognise what is happening and intervene • Without quick attention, the person may die!

Treatment

General advice: v Lie down in shade v Sip water v Remove outer clothing v Cool with damp cloth, especially head & neck

Questions?