Heat illnesses

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In much of the U.S., heat is the most constant weather threat: summers with heat indexes above 105 °F (41 °C) in many areas, and blackouts that leave you without air conditioning. For heat wave preparation, see chapter 10.

Heat illnesses
	Heat exhaustion	Heat stroke (EMERGENCY)
Skin	Cool, pale, clammy, heavy sweating	Hot; red, dry or damp
Temperature	May be somewhat elevated	Above 103 °F (39.4 °C)
Mental state	Tiredness, dizziness, headache; is alert	Confusion, slurred speech, fainting, loss of consciousness, seizures
Pulse	Fast and weak	Fast and strong
Other	Cramps, nausea or vomiting, fainting	Throbbing headache, nausea
What to do	Move to a cool place, loosen clothing, apply cold cloths or give a cool bath, give sips of water. Get medical care if the person vomits, gets worse, or it lasts more than 1 hour.	Call 911 immediately. Cool the person right now: cool place, cold water, cloths or wrapped ice on the neck, armpits, and groin, cold bath. Do not give fluids.

Figure 7.11. Heat stroke: call 911, move the person to a cool place, apply cold to the neck, armpits, and groin, and do not give fluids. — **Figure 7.11.** Heat stroke: call 911, move the person to a cool place, apply cold to the neck, armpits, and groin, and do not give fluids.