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APP/SSHP Soil Excavation at California National Guard Armory Lodi, California Signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion may come on suddenly and resemble those of being in shock. Your skin may be pale grey, pasty, cool/clammy, sweaty in appearance or touch. Other possible heat exhaustion symptoms include: • Heavy sweating • Faintness • Weak, rapid pulse • Low blood pressure • Nausea • Low-grade fever • Headache • Dark urine You usually can treat heat exhaustion by drinking water and diluted fluids containing electrolytes (such as Gatorade or other sports drinks), getting into cooler temperatures, such as an air- conditioned or shaded place, and resting. Depending on the severity of incapacitation of the heat exhaustion victim the SSHO may direct the person to go home and rest or see their physician. Besides hot weather and strenuous activity, other causes of heat exhaustion include: • Dehydration, which impedes your body's ability to sweat and maintain a normal temperature • Alcohol use, which can affect your body's ability to regulate your temperature • Overdressing, particularly in clothes that don't allow sweat to evaporate easily • Certain medications. Drugs that affect your body's ability to stay hydrated and respond appropriately to heat include those that narrow your blood vessels (vasoconstrictors, such as ergotamine), regulate your blood pressure by blocking adrenaline (beta blockers, such as atenolol), rid your body of sodium and water (diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide), alleviate allergy symptoms (antihistamines), calm you (tranquilizers, such as phenothiazines, butyrophenones and thioxanthenes), or reduce psychiatric symptoms such as delusions (neuroleptics, such as olanzapine). • Obesity. Carrying excess weight can affect your body's ability to regulate its temperature and cause your body to retain more heat. If you think you're experiencing heat exhaustion, proceed to do the following: • Move out of the heat to a cooler place • Loosen up tight clothing, remove any PPE • Rest in supine position with legs elevated (6 — 12 inches) if dizzy • Sip cool water or diluted sports drinks if not nauseated or vomiting Contact your doctor if your signs or symptoms worsen or if they don't improve. Seek immediate medical attention if your body temperature reaches 104 F (40 C) or higher. Untreated, heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke, a life-threatening condition that occurs when your body temperature reaches 104 F (40 C) or higher. Heatstroke requires immediate medical attention to prevent permanent damage to your brain and other vital organs or death. OTI E 26