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4. Signs and Symptoms of Heat Illness <br />Several factors may contribute to one's susceptibility to heat illness. These factors include: <br />Weather conditions <br />Physical conditioning <br />Weight <br />Duration in warm weather <br />Amount of last fluid intake <br />Time since last fluid intake <br />Heat illness affects people in different ways. No two individuals should ever be compared to one another <br />for the purposes of analyzing heat illness. Each person must be evaluated separately using the criteria <br />listed below. <br />Signs of Heat Cramps <br />Heat cramps are painful muscle spasms that occur because of an imbalance between water and <br />electrolytes. Profuse sweating, thirst, and flushed skin may accompany heat cramps. Heat cramps often <br />affect the larger leg muscles first. Abdominal cramping and muscle cramps in other parts of the body on <br />a warm day must be recognized as possible early stages of heat illness. <br />The stage of Heat Illness when heat cramps become present is sometimes referred to as heat stress. <br />Heat stress should be recognized as a serious condition and treated similar to heat cramps and heat <br />exhaustion. <br />Signs of Heat Exhaustion <br />A person with heat exhaustion will be near collapse and will have profuse sweating, flushed skin, <br />elevated temperature, dizziness, hyperventilation, and rapid pulse. Confusion, nausea, and slurred <br />speech may also become present. An indicator of concern is cool, dry skin on a warm day. This may <br />indicate that the person's self-cooling mechanism (sweating) is beginning to fail. While thirst is often <br />present in heat exhaustion, some individuals may report not being thirsty due to an altered level of <br />consciousness. An individual with signs of heat exhaustion may or may not be experiencing heat cramps. <br />This is considered a serious medical condition. <br />Signs of Heat Stroke <br />Heat exhaustion, if not immediately treated, may develop into a critical condition called heat stroke. Signs <br />of heat stroke include sudden collapse or loss of consciousness, pale skin, lack of perspiration, hot and <br />dry skin, and body temperature in excess of 104 degrees. In the event of heat stroke, the body losses its <br />ability to dissipate heat through sweating. The internal cooling mechanism has failed or is near failure. <br />Heat stroke can occur suddenly and without warning. <br />Master Health and Safety Plan <br />iksfocacPprojects.n.proj \ 2013 1365020.01_bost stockton work plan12016 hrsc work plathappendiceskappenclixthasok2016_hasp_2015content_final.docx