Protecting Yourself from Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is a very serious condition that is caused by excessive overheating of the body accompanied with a lack of body cooling. This can happen when someone is outside when temperatures are higher, or when doing a physical activity in higher temperatures. Normally someone would release sweat from their body when they have an excess of heat. Sweat will evaporate and cause the body to cool down. However if the body is hot, and the air around the body is hot, the body will struggle to cool down. Heat stroke is the last stage of a heat injury, but heatstroke happens when the body reaches over 104 F.

Heatstroke is an EMERGENCY. It causes damage to many organs including the brain, heart, kidneys, and muscles. Heatstroke is also considered more severe because it causes brain dysfunction (causing confusion, agitation, and aggression). Heatstroke will lead to death if the body temperature remains high for a prolonged time.

Possible complications of heat stroke include:

• Coma
• Muscle breakdown which can send toxins into the bloodstream
• Reduced flow of oxygen and blood to the organs
• Damage to major organs, i.e. heart failure, kidney failure, liver failure

Warning signs of heat stroke include nausea, a throbbing headache, red, hot, and dry skin, dizziness, a rapid strong pulse, and an extremely high body temperature. Other warning signs include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, weakness, headache, fainting, a fast and weak pulse rate, tiredness, paleness, and fast and shallow breathing.

If you notice someone with signs of severe heat stress, there are steps you can take to help them. First, call 911 immediately. Then, get the person to a shady area and find a way to cool the person rapidly. Get them in a tub or body of cool water, spray them with any hose in your area and fan them while you mist them. Try to place ice packs on the head, neck, armpits, and groin. Monitor the body temperature and continue cooling them until their temperature drops to 101-102 F.

You can take action to protect yourself from heat stroke. Drink cool, nonalcoholic beverages, especially those with electrolytes. Rest. Take a cool shower. If possible, seek an air-conditioned environment. Wear lightweight clothing. If possible, remain indoors. And whatever you do, do not engage in strenuous activities.

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