Page 242 - ATP-P 11th Ed

HEAT ILLNESS PROTOCOL

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
1. Dehydration often accompanies heat illness
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2. Colloids (Hextend ) should be avoided in favor of crystalloids.
3. Heat Stroke is a life-threatening effect of hyperthermia and characterized by
altered mental status and elevated core temperature typically >104° F.
SECTION 2 sential even after return to normothermia.
4. Patients are at risk for multisystem organ failure, and careful monitoring is es-

Signs and Symptoms
1. Generally involve physical collapse or debilitation during or immediately following
exertion in the heat.
2. Heat Exhaustion: Temp generally ≤104° F, headache, dizziness, nausea, tachy cardia, and
normal mental status
3. Heat Stroke: Temp generally >104° F, above symptoms and altered mental status (de-
lirium, stupor, coma)
Management
1. Early rapid cooling reduces mortality and morbidity, and should be initiated as soon as
possible. Cooling should be the primary goal before transport.
2. Place in cool area and remove clothing.
a. For Heat Stroke:
i. The best option for rapid cooling is full body ice water immersion (keeping
head elevated out of water).
ii. If this is unavailable, a continual dousing of cold water (as would occur in a
cold shower or with ice water soaked towels) provides the fastest cooling rate.
iii. A less ideal option is to spray the patient with water plus rapid air movement
provided by a fan.
b. Apply these active cooling measures until the core temperature reaches 102° F.
3. Place either 1 tube oral glucose gel (Glutose ) or 1 packet of sugar in buccal
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mucosal region.

232 SECTION 2 TACTICAL MEDICAL EMERGENCY PROTOCOLS (TMEPs) ATP-P Handbook 11th Edition 233