Hyperthermia (Heat Injury) (HB)

Heat illnesses are a common factor of working and recreating in the backcountry. These can range from an inconvenience to life-threatening conditions. Heat Illness happens if we create more heat than we can lose (through movement) or the environmental stresses exceed our body’s ability to compensate.

Thermoregulation is the body’s ability to adjust the internal environment (core temperature) based on the external environment (temperature, humidity, wind) to maintain a normal temperature range. The body is continually shifting fluids between the capillaries and surrounding tissues in the skin to attempt to keep the temperature stable. If the body is hot and has enough excess water on board, it will shift the water to the skin to be evaporated as sweat.

If the heat challenge continues and the body cannot keep up, the patient will eventually become overheated, leading to several problems.