Feeling the Heat
What are three common signs of heat cramps?
Painful muscle cramps or spasms, often accompanied by heavy sweating after physical activity in the heat.
What is one of the first things you should do for someone showing signs of heat illness?
Stop the activity, move them out of the heat, and assess their condition.
A lifeguard says, "You're sweating, so you're obviously fine." What's wrong with this statement?
Sweating does not rule out serious heat illness or heat stroke.
Can someone experience a heat-related illness while working indoors?
Yes. Heat illness can occur indoors, especially in hot, humid, or poorly ventilated environments.
A lifeguard claims that wearing sunscreen prevents heat stroke. True or False?
False. Sunscreen protects against UV radiation but does not prevent dangerous increases in body temperature.
What are common signs of heat exhaustion?
Heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, and feeling faint.
What should you do for someone experiencing heat cramps?
Stop activity, move them to a cool location, allow them to rest, and provide appropriate hydration if they are fully alert and able to swallow.
A lifeguard tells someone experiencing heat cramps to keep working until their next rotation. What did the lifeguard do wrong?
The person should stop activity, rest, cool down, and be assessed.
Why does high humidity make it harder for the body to cool itself?
High humidity slows the evaporation of sweat, making it harder for the body to release heat.
A lifeguard says, "If you're thirsty, you're already dying of heat stroke." What's wrong with this statemen
Thirst can be a sign of dehydration, but it does not automatically mean someone is experiencing heat stroke.
A guest is sweating heavily, feels dizzy, and is nauseated after being outside all day. What heat emergency should you suspect?
Heat exhaustion is possible. Assess for signs of heat stroke and other emergencies.
Name three ways to help cool someone experiencing heat exhaustion.
Move them to shade or air conditioning, loosen excess clothing, apply cool wet towels or water, and use fanning.
A lifeguard gives a dizzy, nauseated guest an energy drink and sends them back into the sun. What is wrong with this response?
The guest needs assessment, cooling, rest, and monitoring instead of immediately returning to heat exposure.
A lifeguard feels dizzy during a rotation but insists they're fine and wants to finish their stand. What should happen?
Remove the lifeguard from duty, assess their condition, and arrange appropriate care. They should not continue guarding while symptomatic.
A guest experiencing heat cramps demands to go right back on the waterslides. What should you do?
Have them stop activity, rest, cool down, hydrate if appropriate, and be reassessed before returning.
A lifeguard becomes confused, stumbles, and cannot answer simple questions after prolonged heat exposure. What should you suspect?
Heat stroke, a life-threatening emergency.
A guest is confused and collapses after prolonged heat exposure. What should you do immediately?
Activate the EAP and EMS, begin rapid cooling, and monitor breathing and responsiveness.
A guest becomes confused and collapses, but the lifeguard decides to wait 15 minutes to see whether they improve. What's wrong with this decision?
Possible heat stroke requires immediate emergency activation and rapid cooling. Treatment should not be delayed.
Why is confusion considered a serious warning sign during a heat emergency?
Confusion may indicate heat stroke, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate emergency treatment.
A guest is confused, vomiting, and extremely hot. Their friend says, "Just let them sleep it off." What should you do?
Suspect a life-threatening heat emergency, activate the EAP and EMS, begin rapid cooling, and monitor the guest.
True or False: Someone experiencing heat stroke must have stopped sweating.
False. Someone experiencing heat stroke may still be sweating.
Should you give water to someone experiencing suspected heat stroke who is confused or has an altered level of consciousness?
No. Do not give anything by mouth to someone with altered mental status because of the risk of choking or aspiration.
A lifeguard pours water into the mouth of an unresponsive, overheated guest. What is the danger?
The guest could choke or aspirate the water. Never give oral fluids to an unresponsive person.
A guest has stopped sweating and has hot skin. Is that enough by itself to diagnose heat stroke?
No. You must consider the person's overall condition, especially altered mental status. Heat stroke can occur with or without sweating.
A lifeguard becomes disoriented, collapses, and is still sweating heavily. Another guard says, "It can't be heat stroke because they're sweating." Identify the mistake and explain the correct response.
Sweating does not rule out heat stroke. Activate the EAP and EMS immediately, begin rapid cooling using the approved method, and monitor the person's airway, breathing, and responsiveness.