Heat Exhaustion Symptoms

Knowing how to prevent, recognize and treat heat exhaustion symptoms is important for anyone who goes camping in the summer - or in the desert at any time of year.

Our vital organs work best when our body temperature is about 98.6 F/37 C.

Our bodies are very efficient at getting rid of excess heat so that our core temperature remains at that optimal level.

But sometimes we overwhelm our bodies and that mechanism can't operate.

Heat exhaustion - the result of water and salt loss - is your body's signal that it is overheating.

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Heat Exhaustion Symptoms

Heat exhaustion develops over hours or days - even in relatively cool conditions if you don't drink enough water after vigorous exercise.

If you ignore heat exhaustion symptoms, you are in danger of progressing into heat stroke - a serious and potentially fatal condition.

How your body regulates its temperature

Heat gain

A body gains heat by

metabolising (digesting, breathing, just doing its thing)
exercising (which can increase heat gain 10x!)
being in a hot environment (obviously, in a hot place you heat up faster)

Heat loss

In a hot environment, a body can get rid of heat by

exhaling
producing sweat, which evaporates on the skin, lowering the body temperature
transferring heat from the blood to the skin, and then dilating the blood vessels on the skin so heat can easily leave the body
coming into contact with cold objects

The equation is simple:

If heat loss is equal to or greater than heat gain, you stay cool.

Most of the time, this is what happens.

What if heat gain is greater than heat loss?

Obviously, if you do vigorous exercise on a hot or humid day, you may increase the heat produced by your metabolism faster than your defense mechanisms can remove it.

Your core temperature goes up.

You may experience heat exhaustion symptoms.

When the body can't cool itself, it gradually stops working. The brain, heart, liver and kidneys can't function properly.

Left untreated, the condition can cause permanent damage - or death.

Fortunately, avoiding such a dangerous scenario is easy if you just use your common sense.

How to stay cool and healthy

In conditions of high heat or humidity, here's how to avoid heat exhaustion symptoms:

Don't exert yourself

Save that game of beach volleyball for later in the day when it's cooler.

Stay in the shade

Get out a good book and relax in the hammock!

Dress sensibly

Wear light colored, loosely fitting clothes.

Drink plenty of liquids - before you feel thirsty

Thirst is actually a sign that you are not replacing your fluids and are already becoming dehydrated.

Have a drink of water at least once every hour

Children may be so involved in their play that they forget to stop for a drink. It's your job to remind them - again and again and again.

Having water bottles handy at all times makes it easier for everyone to remember. 

If you are producing lots of clear light yellow urine, you are probably getting enough liquids. If not - you know what you need to do!

Avoid alcohol and caffeine

They can affect your body's temperature-regulating mechanisms. Save them for when it's cooler. 

Avoid electrolyte drinks and sport drinks during physical activity

These drinks can slow the absorption of water from the bowel, making the liquid you take in less available to your body. Stick to water.

Go jump in the lake!

There's nothing like a swim to cool everyone down.

A man paddling in a pond with an inflatable boat and two small children

Make sure to take precautions to avoid sunburn!

Read about how to apply sunscreen here.

If you forget, you'll want to learn how to treat a sunburn!

Know when to be especially careful

Heat exhaustion is more likely in these situations:

When the air is very dry

In extremely dry conditions, your sweat might evaporate so quickly that you don't even realize that you are sweating!

Without visible sweat, you might underestimate how hot you are. You can experience severe fluid loss before you know it.

When the air is very humid

When the air is saturated with moisture, sweat can't evaporate efficiently.

Your body still produces sweat, but it can't cool you down if it can't evaporate.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion

These are the most common heat exhaustion symptoms:

thirst
profuse sweating
gooseflesh and chills
headache
nausea - with or without vomiting
dizziness
weakness
rapid pulse

The body temperature might be normal or slightly elevated (98-105 F/37-41 C).

If these warning signs of heat exhaustion are ignored, heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke - which is extremely serious and potentially fatal.

Heat Exhaustion First Aid

If you see any of the listed symptoms - in yourself or in someone else - here's what to do.

Get out of the sun

Find a shady spot: under a tree, beneath an awning, or in a sun shelter. If you can't find shade, go indoors.

Wet the skin

Soak cloths in water and place them on the skin.

Use a spray bottle to mist skin with water.

Drink water

Drink slowly. Drink small, frequent amounts.

Drink as much as possible, even if the water is vomited up immediately. Some of it will be absorbed.

Drink an electrolyte drink

Later, after any vomiting has ceased, mix about a litre/quart of water with a pinch of salt and a pinch of sugar. Drink this slowly.

Rest

Stay in the shade and take it easy for the rest of the day.

If you don't deal with heat exhaustion symptoms, your condition can progress to heat stroke.  Click here for information about preventing heat stroke and about heat stroke first aid.

It's important to note that both heat exhaustion and heat stroke can occur even at moderate temperatures - anytime the body heats up faster than it can cool itself.

Use common sense, and you'll never have to experience heat stroke or heat exhaustion.

Now that you know how to recognize and treat heat exhaustion symptoms, visit this page to learn more basic first aid instructions for camping.

If you are planning a family camping trip, you'll want to visit the Camping Family home page.