Heat Cramps Symptoms and Treatment

What are heat cramps?

• Painful muscle spasms

• Not a medical emergency; can be treated by first aid responders

• Usually occurs during or after exercise

• Usually sart by affecting the specific muscles recently exercised

• Can increase in severity by increasing the number of muscles affected

• In severe cases can involve all skelatal muscles in the body

• Probably results from

  • dehydration (either from losses of fluid from sweat or lack of re-hydrating from a pervious exercise/play session)

  • electrolyte loss through sweat

  • Fatigue

Heat cramps symptoms:

• Muscle painor a feeling of "twinges"

• Spasms

• Visual evidence that muscles have tightened up

• Possible nausea and thirst as a result of dehydration.

Heat cramps: treatment

• Remove child from practice or game and into the shade

• Have the child sip or drink fluids with electrolytes (sports drinks) continually until symptoms stop.

  • Avoid "sloshy" feeling or excessive drinking of fluids

  • Good rule of thumb: continue sipping after cramps stop until the child has the urge to urinate

• Gently massage the affected muscles

• Massage the affected muscles with ice bags (if possible, and if tolerated by the child)

• Gently stretch the affected muscles

• Add salt to foods (not by giving salt tablets)

• If symptoms persist and the child cannot tolerate fluids by mouth, bring the child to a hospital or doctor's office (no need to call an ambulance)