Anna Custer
First Aid and CPR Topic Paper
Heat and Cold Emergencies
Heat and Cold Emergencies: In a Nutshell
Often when thinking of injuries or illness, the last thing the average person would think
of is environmental factors such as heat and cold as being a danger source. This is a serious
misconception because there are in fact many serious illnesses that can be obtained from the
environment we live in, if proper safety precautions aren’t taken. This paper will discuss some
of these major heat and cold emergencies, as well as how to prevent and treat them.
According to the American Red Cross First-Aid text book, there are three main factors
that influence how well the body maintains its temperature: air temperature, humidity, and
wind. When one or all of these elements become compromised due to climate change, the risk
of a heat or cold injury heightens. Additionally, there are factors that can increase a person’s
risk of getting a temperature-related illness such as exercising outdoors, being elderly or young,
those with diabetes or heart disease, and those who’ve previous had a heat or cold emergency.
Extreme heat accompanied by high humidity or wind can reduce the body’s ability to
maintain its natural healthy temperature. There are three main types of heat-related
emergencies that a person can get: heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. According
to the American Red Cross textbook, heat cramps are defined as painful spasms of skeletal
muscles, usually affecting the legs and abdomen. There are no obvious visible signs that a
person is experiencing heat cramps, although the pain is enough to make a person realize
something is wrong. If someone tells you they are experiencing heat cramps, making sure they
get lots of rest and plenty of fluids should make for a quick recovery. Sometimes these cramps
can mean that a person is in the early stages of a more severe heat-related emergency, such as
a heat related illness. Heat related illness is especially dangerous because it can get worse very
quickly if not treated properly. Heat exhaustion is the most common form of heat-related
illness, and normally occurs when a person is exposed to high temperatures for long periods of
time. Over time, heat exhaustion causes a person to lose a lot of fluid through sweating, which
decreases blood volume. Eventually this will cause reduced blood flow to vital organs, affecting
the circulatory system which may cause a person to go into shock. Signs that someone is
experiencing heat exhaustion include moist skin, headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, and
heavy sweating. Heat exhaustion can normally be reversed with immediate care. The final and
most serious heat-related illness is known as heat stroke. This stage of heat illness is rarely
