Types of Heat Illness

​Heat exhaustion (Armed Forces Reportable Medical Event)

Signs and Symptoms:

• dizziness, headache, nausea, weakness, unsteady gait, muscle cramps, fatigue
  
• core temperature elevated but remains below 104⁰F
  
• symptoms resolve rapidly with cooling interventions
  

Treatment:

• rest Soldier in shade
  
• loosen uniform/remove head gear
  
• heave Soldier drink 1.5 quarts of water over 1 hour
  
• evacuate if no improvement in 15-20 minutes, or if Soldier's condition worsens
  

Heat stroke (Armed Forces Reportable Medical Event)

Signs and Symptoms:

• Primary symptom is change in mental status (confusion, delirium, combative, loss of consciousness)
  
• profuse sweating, vomiting, weakness, convulsions and chills
  
• Heat strokes are a medical emergency and in severe cases can be fatal – initiate rapid cooling and Medevac
  
• the faster the body is cooled, the less damage to the brain and organs
  

Treatment:

• call EMS or for MEDEVAC
  
• remove all out clothing
  
• initiate rapid cooling with ice sheets
  
• cover all but the face with ice sheets
  
• ensure the ice sheet is soaked prior to applying to the Soldier
  
• switch ice sheets every 6 minutes with new ice sheets
  

Hyponatremia

Signs and Symptoms:

• mental status changes
• repeated vomiting (clear vomit)
  
• excessive water intake
  
• poor food intake
  
• abdomen distended/bloated
  
• large amounts of clear urine
  

Treatment:

• verify sodium
• do not give more water or IV fluids
  
• if awake, allow Soldier to consume salty foods
  
• evacuate immediately