Heat-Related Illnesses

People who live in very hot climates must watch out for developing a heat-related illness when spending long periods of time outside. The human body is fairly well-equipped to exhaust heat if necessary and cool itself down through sweating. However, under extreme conditions, it isn’t always possible to do this effectively. When the body is unable to keep itself cool, its temperature may rise to dangerous levels.

The Dangers of Too Much Heat

There are varying levels of heat-related illnesses. The longer the body is exposed to extreme heat conditions, the more severe its suffering will be. If the body remains at an elevated temperature for too long, a person may even risk death.

Some common heat-related illnesses are as follows:

• Heat Rash and Heat Cramps: Itchy skin and cramping muscles that arise when the body’s sweat ducts swell and become blocked from the heat, and when the muscles lose more water, salt, and minerals than they can replace
• Heat Exhaustion: Body suffers from an abnormally elevated temperature and a loss of water and salt, resulting in weakness, dizziness, headache, increased pulse, and dehydration
• Heat Stroke: Body experiences a rapid increase in temperature and it cannot sweat, resulting in dizziness, nausea, confusion, dehydration, and unconsciousness

If heat stroke is not treated right away, it can be life-threatening.

It is the responsibility of labor supervisors and coaches to ensure that their workers and players are given ample time to rest, cool down, and rehydrate when exposed to high temperature conditions for long periods of time.

Contact Us

If you have suffered a heat-related illness as the result of another party’s negligence, then you may have the right to claim compensation. Contact a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer from William Palmer & Associates, P.C. today at 702-888-2222 to speak with an attorney about your legal options.