Section V. HEAT CRAMPS
4-17. DEFINITION/CHARACTERISTICS
Heat cramps are painful cramps of the voluntary muscles, usually of the
abdomen, legs, or arms. The cramps are caused by the inability of the muscles to relax
once they have contracted. This inability to relax is caused by faulty nerve impulses to
the muscles resulting from salt imbalance in the body. The condition occurs as a result
of profuse sweating which removes water and sodium chloride from the body. Heat
cramps normally result from excessive loss of salt after a person has been working in
hot weather for a long period of time. The salt loss causes painful contractions of
muscles; the muscle contractions are referred to a heat cramps. A person with heat
cramps will recover if the salt and water imbalance in the body is corrected and steps
are taken to prevent heat cramps from developing into more serious injuries.
4-18. SIGNS/SYMPTOMS
The most obvious indications of heat cramps are muscle cramps or spasms in
the casualty's abdominal area and/or in his limbs. The casualty will usually grasp or
massage the muscle that is having the spasm--if the spasm is in one of the limbs. If the
spasm is in the person's abdominal region, the casualty may hold his abdomen and
bend over at the waist. The casualty will normally be sweating profusely. His skin,
however, will remain warm, and his body temperature will be either normal or only
slightly elevated. His blood pressure will be within his normal range.
4-19. TREATMENT
The treatment for heat cramps is to replace the salt and water lost from the body
and to prevent the casualty from suffering additional heat injury (heat exhaustion or
a. Protect the Casualty from the Sun. Move the casualty to a cool, shaded
area to rest. If shade in not available, improvise using ponchos, blankets, or other
available materials to protect him from direct sunlight. Have him sit or lie in a
comfortable position.
b. Loosen Clothing. Loosen tight-fitting clothing if you are not in a chemically-
contaminated environment.
c. Determine Whether the Casualty is Nauseous. Ask the casualty if he feels
nauseous (feels as though he is going to vomit). If he does, encourage him to drink
cool water (no salt added). Vomiting caused by drinking salty water will only result in
the loss of more water and salt from the casualty's body. When the feeling of nausea
has passed, give the casualty salty water to drink or salty food to eat.
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