HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES

((I am not a doctor, and I don't play one on TV. The following information has been pulled from a number of health related web sites and for the most part is common sense.))

When summer rolls around, it is time to think about HEAT and HUMIDITY. Blacksmithing is a vigorous activity and if you are not careful you can find yourself experiencing the unpleasant side effects of dehydration.

Technically dehydration means that the amount of water in your body has dropped below the proper level. When it is hot and you are working hard your body can produce a half-gallon of sweat every hour. Unless you are drinking water at the same rate, you will dehydrate and then stop sweating, at which point your body starts to over heat. Remember, sweating is the body's natural mechanism for cooling off.

The initial signs of dehydration are:

• Thirst
• Less-frequent urination
• Dry skin
• Fatigue
• Light-headedness
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Dry mouth and mucous membranes
• Increased heart rate and breathing

As the dehydration continues you will start to experience the progressively more dangerous conditions of: heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and finally heat stroke.

WARNING: Heat stroke can be fatal!!

Heat cramps are muscle pains or spasms - usually in the abdomen, arms, or legs - that may occur in association with strenuous activity. People who sweat a lot during strenuous activity are prone to heat cramps. This sweating depletes the body’s salts and moisture. The low salt level in the muscles causes painful cramps. Heat cramps may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion. If you have heart problems or are on a low-sodium diet, seek medical attention for heat cramps.

What should you do if you experience heat cramps?

If medical attention is not necessary, take the following steps:

• Stop all activity and sit quietly in a cool place.
• Drink clear juice or a sports beverage.
• Do not return to strenuous activity for a few hours after the cramps subside because further exertion may lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
• Seek medical attention for heat cramps if they do not subside in 1 hour.

Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids.

The warning signs of heat exhaustion include the following:

• Heavy sweating
• Paleness
• Muscle cramps
• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fainting

The skin may be cool and moist. The pulse rate will be fast and weak, and breathing will be fast and shallow. If heat exhaustion is untreated, it may progress to heat stroke. Seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or last longer than one hour.

What steps can be taken to cool the body during heat exhaustion?

• Drink cool, nonalcoholic beverages.
• Rest.
• Take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath. *Seek an air-conditioned environment.

Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature: the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. Body temperature may rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.

Warning signs of heat stroke vary but may include the following:

• An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F)
• Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
• Rapid, strong pulse
• Throbbing headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Unconsciousness

If you start to experience these symptoms or see any of these signs in someone else, you may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency. Have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the victim. Do the following:

• Get the victim to a shady area.
• Cool the victim rapidly, using whatever methods you can. For example, immerse the victim in a tub of cool water; place the person in a cool shower; spray the victim with cool water from a garden hose; sponge the person with cool water; or if the humidity is low, wrap the victim in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously.
• Monitor body temperature and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102°F.
• If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions.
• Do not give the victim alcohol to drink.
• Get medical assistance as soon as possible. If not treated, heat stroke can be fatal in less than an hour.

The smart thing is to avoid getting into any of the situations above in the first place. Start drinking liquids before you begin blacksmithing, continue while working and drink some more after you stop. Many authorities maintain that water is the single best way to combat heat related illnesses. Many sports drinks on the market effectively restore body fluids, electrolytes, and salt balance. Don’t drink liquids that contain caffeine, alcohol, or large amounts of sugar. These actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also, avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps. Do not take salt tablets unless directed by your doctor.

Pace yourself. If you are not accustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment, start slowly and pick up the pace gradually. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for breath, STOP all activity. Get into a cool area or at least in the shade, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak, or faint.

Be especially careful since one of the early side effects is confusion and light-headedness. As the condition gets worse you will be less likely to think rationally. The symptoms described here can really sneak up on you and catch you unaware. Since many of us do our blacksmithing alone, there may not be someone to notice that we are going into a state of heat exhaustion or worse, heat stroke.

-- AlbinDrzewianowski - 03 Jan 2008