Heat cramps usually affect people who work in hot environments or who engage in strenuous exercise without acclimatization and proper training. Excessive sweating may result in painful heat cramps in the muscles of the abdomen, legs, and arms. Heat cramps may also result from drinking ice water or other cold drinks either too quickly or in too large a quantity after exercise. Muscle cramps are often an early sign of approaching heat exhaustion. Muscle spasms or heat cramps usually last only a few minutes and disappear spontaneously.

TREATMENT

To provide first-aid treatment for heat cramps, move the person to a cool place. Since heat cramps are caused by loss of salt and water, give the victim plenty of water to drink adding about 1 teaspoon of salt to a quart of water. Apply manual pressure to the cramped muscle, or gently massage the muscle to relieve the spasm. In the event that the heat cramps do not pass or become more severe, other symptoms may follow and the victim should be treated as a heat exhaustion casualty and then transferred to a medical facility for treatment.

HEAT EXHAUSTION

Heat exhaustion is the most common condition resulting from exposure to hot environments. Heat exhaustion can be a combination of several entities and is, therefore, not an easy condition to diagnose. Because of different causes, for example, water depletion or salt depletion or a combination of both, the signs and symptoms vary.

As a general rule, heat exhaustion involves a serious disturbance of blood flow to the brain, heart, and lungs that may cause the victim to experience weakness, fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, and nausea. He may faint but will probably regain consciousness when his head is lowered to improve the blood supply to his brain. The victim appears ashen gray; his skin is cold, moist, and clammy; and the pupils of his eyes are dilated (enlarged). The vital signs are usually normal; however, the victim may have a weak pulse, together with rapid and shallow breathing. The body temperature may be below normal. Heat exhaustion is a complex malady and is often misdiagnosed, even by medical personnel. You, as a first-aider, should treat prolonged heat cramps and any heat injury that is obviously not heatstroke as heat exhaustion.

TREATMENT. Care for the victim as if he were in shock Move the victim to a cool or air-conditioned area Loosen clothing, applying cool wet cloths to the head, axilla, groin, and ankles, and fan the victim. Do not allow the victim to become chilled (if this does occur, then cover the victim with alight blanket and move him into a warmer area). When the victim is conscious, give him a solution of 1 teaspoon of salt dissolved in a quart of cool water. If the victim vomits, do not give him any more fluids. Transport the victim to a medical facility as soon as possible.