Event Safety Insights Issue One | Fall 2016 | Page 22

Heat Cramps If you have ignored the perspiration step above and remain exposed to the heat and/or are still engaged in outdoor activities, your body will next try to send a wake up call to get you to stop. That signal comes in the form of cramps that can be debilitating. Painful muscle spasms and cramps are the first indicator that your internal body temperature is becoming dangerously high. This is a warning to get you to take notice, stop the activity, and find shade. Once cramps have occurred, it is also important to take slow sips of water in an attempt to replenish fluids lost through perspiration. However, if nausea is also present, don’t drink water. The outcome will be messy, and those around you will also not react well. This is a tough dilemma. On one hand, your body needs the water. On the other hand, your body wants to make you as miserable as possible to get you to try something else! Heat Exhaustion If you ignore the heat cramp stage without removing yourself from the heat, then heat exhaustion will likely follow. Victims of heat exhaustion may still be perspiring profusely, become physically weak, have clammy or pale skin, exhibit dizziness, feel faint or be overcome with nausea and vomiting. At this point, many victims finally realize 22 that something is wrong. However, in most cases they blame their illness on something other than heat. Heat exhaustion symptoms are associated with so many other flu-like illnesses that we tend to not attribute these factors to heat exhaustion. There is also a mental health issue that kicks in at this point.