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Ohio Valley ER Treats 2 For Heat Exhaustion

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Jul 8, 2010 9:33 pm US/Eastern

Ohio Valley ER Treats 2 For Heat Exhaustion

MCKEES ROCKS (KDKA) ― This heat can make you very sick. A local ER is seeing people who have gotten into trouble. It's just a reminder this hot weather isn't something to take lightly.

Ohio Valley General Hospital emergency department has had two cases of heat exhaustion.

In one case, a man with diabetes and high blood pressure sought treatment.

"Unfortunately, [he] had his belt on his air conditioner break on his car and had to drive an hour in the heat and became overcome and nearly passed out with that before he was rescued and had to be brought in by ambulance," ER physician Dr. William Bell said. "The first gentleman had an altered level of consciousness, which indicates a more severe case of heat exhaustion."

An otherwise healthy young man also came to the emergency room.

"The other patient was an Amish gentleman in his 20's who developed heat exhaustion while he was putting a roof on a house," Dr. Bell continued.

The patient had stopped sweating, realized he was in trouble and came in. Both patients were treated with intravenous hydration and then discharged in good condition.

Signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion are muscle cramps, dizziness, weakness, rapid pulse and breathing. If you have any of these, get out of the heat and get fluids.

"These are typical and fortunately fairly mild cases and they can get to the point actually when the body temperature raises significantly, they require very aggressive measures in order to sustain life even and there can be severe complications," says Dr. Bell.

In this hot weather, take steps to protect yourself. Limit your time outdoors, wear light clothing and a wide-brimmed hat, drink lots of water or sports drinks, but not caffeine or alcohol.

"People with chronic medical conditions need to be especially cautious because some of the medications that they're taking may interfere with their ability to perspire or acclimatize or may make them prone to dehydration quicker," he explained.

The sudden nature of a heat wave is part of why southwestern Pennsylvanians have a hard time adjusting.

"None of us right now are accustomed to the type of heat we've been having recently and until we become accustomed to the type of heat, the amount and quality of your perspiration changes," Dr. Bell explained. "You put out much more dilute sweat initially than you do later on which means that you lose your blood salts a lot quicker."

In addition, the OVGH ER is seeing other types of cases related to the heat. Elderly patients have come in too as the heat has aggravated heart and lung problems. Bottom line: stay somewhere cool until this heat wave passes.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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