Boy Scouts of America

Heat-Related Illness

SUMMARY

Each year, heat-related illnesses strike the unprepared. Prevention is key! Be prepared by acclimating to the environment for at least seven days before going on an outdoor adventure; drinking plenty of fluids and eating a healthy diet beforehand; and continuing to drink fluids when outdoors on hot or humid days. Be sure to drink only when you’re thirsty to avoid overhydrating. Take extra rest breaks, especially if you are exercising strenuously.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The body cools itself primarily through evaporating sweat. This is why it is so important to stay hydrated. But in hot and humid weather, the sweat does not evaporate—it puddles, and sweat that puddles is not cooling. In that case, a person is at greater risk for a heat-related illness, either because of excessive water loss, an increased body temperature, or both. The four most common illnesses are heat syncope, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke.

  Heat Exhaustion Symptoms

  • Inability to concentrate
  • Pale or ashen skin
  • Rapid pulse
  • Severe thirst
  • Heavy sweating, skin may be clammy, not hot
  • Fatigue, weakness, irritability
  • Nausea, dizziness, headache

  Heat Stroke Symptoms

  • Extremely hot-feeling, flushed skin
  • Altered mental status
  • Fatigue
  • Headache, body aches
  • Nausea, vomiting

  Prevention

  • Monitor: Know how hot and humid it will be
  • Acclimate: It takes 7+ days of heat exposure to prepare the body for hot environments
  • Hydrate: Drink when thirsty, preferably water
  • Observe: Watch all group members for signs of heat-related illness

Heat syncope is dizziness or fainting that usually occurs when standing for long periods of time (such as at summertime flag ceremonies) or when suddenly standing up. Being hot and dehydrated increases the risk for syncope. Heat cramps occur when sweating depletes the body’s salt and fluids. In situations of either heat syncope or heat cramps, have the person rest in a cool area and drink water or diluted sports drink. If the person does not feel better within an hour, get medical attention.

Heat exhaustion occurs due to an excessive loss of water through excessive sweating. Uncontrolled heat exhaustion is an urgent medical situation; it can progress to heatstroke if not treated. Provide cold water or diluted sports drink. Cool the person—get them out of the heat, remove excess clothing, spray or douse the person with cold water, and fan them. Do not give them salt tablets. Evacuate if the person does not improve within 30 minutes.

Heatstroke is a true medical emergency. Immediate cooling, evacuation and activation of the EMS system is required, as the body is no longer able to cool itself. It is critical to cool the person quickly by any means possible—move the person to a cool, shaded area; remove as much clothing as possible; spray, douse, or immerse them in cold water; place ice packs in the person’s armpits, groin, and sides of the neck. These actions should happen simultaneously, if possible. If the person is unconscious, maintain their airway. Continue to monitor them and prepare for a rapid evacuation. Do not give an unconscious person anything by mouth. Do not use fever reducers like acetaminophen to bring down the temperature. You may stop cooling the person if their mental status improves.

Again, the best way to prepare for heat-related illnesses is to prevent the illness.

RESOURCES

 

Reviewed January 26, 2024. 

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.