Summary
Heat exhaustion occurs when a person exerts themselves
beyond the body’s ability to cool itself. This can
occur because of one or more of the following conditions:
•
Extremely hot conditions
•
Extremely humid condition (makes evaporation of sweat less
effective in cooling the body)
•
Dehydration because not enough fluids have been taken in
and/or because sweating has depleted the available moisture
in the body
• The
person is not conditioned or used to these extreme
conditions
As the result of one or more of these conditions a
person’s temperature will rise, their face will become
flushed, and they will become weak or disoriented. If
their body temperature rises beyond 104 F they are in a more
serious condition than heat exhaustion know as a heat
stroke. If that condition occurs emergency medical
help should be summoned immediately.
Heat exhaustion progressing to the dangerous heat stroke
condition might include some of the following conditions:
• The
flushed color and redness beyond the face to other parts of
body
• They
might pass out for more than a brief time
• If
you can take their temperature and it has risen to more than
104 F
•
Convulsions or seizers occur
• They
vomiting or have diarrhea
• An
increased heart rate
Oils, blends & products
recommended:
Oils & Blends:
peppermint
Essential oils based
products:
Also consider:
Suggested protocols:
Move the person to a cool spot (shade) and a restful
position and help them rehydrate by sipping cool liquids if
possible (avoid carbonated drinks or alcohol) while using
the oils in the following way:
•
Apply a cool damp cloth with peppermint added to the
forehead.
•
Apply 2 - 3 drops of peppermint to each if these areas; the
back of the neck, the bottoms of the feet, and the chest or
neck. If a peppermint spritz is available that may be
used on these areas.
• Let
them "cup and inhale" the peppermint
Experiences and Testimonials of others
BK - We went on a father and son's
camp-out last week, and I took a number of people on a hike
on Saturday morning. We got back about 11:30 and the sun
had just come out pretty strong. We might have pushed too
hard because a couple kids were red faced and exhausted. I
ran back to my tent and grabbed the peppermint. I got
permission from one of the boys whose nose had started
bleeding to apply the peppermint. We put it on his feet,
chest and made him smell it. His nose stopped bleeding
quickly and his color came back, and he was running around
camp in no time. The other kid's dad elected to run his kid
to the hospital, where he spent most of the rest of the day
with an IV in his arm. Then went home still exhausted (and
broke).
Ready, Set, Grow
