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Medical Author:

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

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The treatment is directed at cooling the patient in a controlled fashion while making sure that the patient stays hydrated and that blood flow is normal.

Treatment of heat exhaustion

• Because heat exhaustion generally develops gradually, a person will often be dehydrated. Usually they may be given something to drink.
Ideally something that replaces lost fluid and electrolytes such as a cool sport beverage (with 6% or less glucose) should be used. IV fluid may be used if the person does not tolerate oral replacement (if he or she cannot keep anything down).
• The patient should stay in a cool environment and avoid strenuous activity for several days.

Treatment of heat stroke

• Treatment is aimed at reducing the patient's core temperature to normal as quickly as possible.
• The doctor may use immersion, evaporative, or invasive cooling techniques.
• In the evaporative technique, cold or ice packs may be placed in the armpits or groin. The skin is kept moist with cool fluid, and fans are directed to blow across the body.
• An IV will be started and fluids are given rapidly.
• The patient's urine output will be monitored.
• Treatment will continue until the patient's body core temperature is 101.3-102.2 F (38.5-39 C) and then stopped to keep from making the patient too cold.
• The patient most likely will be admitted to the hospital for further blood tests and observation.

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