CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta recently visited the Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services to tape several segments on heat-related emergencies.
The first segments will air Wednesday, Aug. 16 on the program “Paging Dr. Gupta,” between 6-10 a.m. officials said. The episode will feature Chief Allen McCullough and staff Lt. Scott Roberts and firefighter/EMT cadet David Bellavance.

McCullough said Fayette County Emergency Services has already responded to numerous heat related emergencies such as heat cramps and heat exhaustion. The most serious of the heat conditions according to Chief McCullough is heatstroke which is a true medical emergency which results from when a person has been in a hot environment for a long period of time, overwhelming the body’s sweating mechanism. The patient’s body temperature rises until it reaches a level at which brain damage can occur.
Signs and symptoms of heatstroke include very high body temperature, dry skin (usually), hot and red skin, and changes in the state of consciousness without prompt and proper EMS intervention. A patient with heatstroke may die.

According to Chief McCullough the most frequent heat related emergencies, however are heat cramps and heat exhaustion. Heat cramps results from losing too much water and salt from muscle tissue and cause severe cramps and spasms especially in the arms and legs and may affect muscles in the stomach area.
The most common EMS response to a heat related emergency is heat exhaustion with profuse sweating, lightheadedness, dizziness, weak pulse and nausea.

The four most common factors which impact a heat related medical emergency are the climate (hot temperatures, high humidity), exercise and strenuous activity in the heated environment, age (especially the elderly and young children) and pre-existing illnesses and medical conditions such as heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, thyroid gland disorders, skin disease, dehydration, obesity, diabetes, as well as other conditions needing certain medications.

First aid measures include first calling 911 for emergency medical services and remove the patients from the heated environment if possible and begin general cooling. Offer water to drink but not if the patient has nausea and or vomiting. Paramedics will most likely need to replace fluids by intravenous. According to McCullough the best medical advice is prevention.

Avoid heat/humidity exposure especially if there are pre-existing medical conditions among the elderly or very young. Unless instructed otherwise by your physician or practitioner drink fluids regularly and avoid the most extreme daily conditions by planning outdoor activities in the earlier or later part of the day.

Again, practice prevention and drink lots of water. Watch for Fayette County’s EMS with CNN’s Senior Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta on Wednesday, Aug. 16 and throughout August on “Paging Dr. Gupta”.

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