Beat the Heat and Avoid Heatstroke This Summer
Heat stress on the body is caused by prolonged exposure to hot environments that result in injury or illness.
Whether spending the day outside in the sun, working in a hot environment or exercising excessively without a break, heat stress can result in several conditions like heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat rashes and, most seriously of all, heat stroke.
Your body is designed to regulate it’s own internal temperature, and one way it cools down on a hot summer day is to sweat. Sweating, while out in the sun or during physical exercise, releases heat through the skin and reduces your internal temperatures. But spending a long time in high temperatures can cause your internal cooling system to fail and the sweat to stop. If you stop sweating, your body temperature may rise to very high levels, and in severe cases, your brain and other vital organs may begin to shut down. This is known as heatstroke.
Unless your body is cooled, death can occur in minutes when heatstroke sets in. Heatstroke often happens to athletes doing intense workouts outside in hot weather. In this instance, it is called exertional heatstroke. But older adults and vulnerable people with no air conditioning during a heat wave can also suffer from heatstroke. This is called non-exertional or classic heatstroke.
Learn to recognize the following symptoms of heatstroke so you can act fast to prevent permanent disability or death:
- Confusion
- Fainting
- Body temperature of 104°F (40°C) or higher
- Hot, dry skin
- Nausea and vomiting
- Rapid heartbeat
- Quick, shallow breathing
- Loss of balance and coordination
- Seizures
If you or someone around you displays any of the above signs of heatstroke, it is vital to act fast! Call 911 immediately and move the person into shade or away from the heat source. Remove their clothing and fan them with air to help lower their body temperature. If possible, place cold water or wet fabrics, like a towel, shirt or sheets, on their body. Ice packs applied to the armpits and groin areas can provide the fastest cooling ability, but it is important to cover the ice packs with cloth before applying them to the skin. Continue to check anything you placed on, or next to the skin, to ensure it is still providing cooling relief and has not dried out.
To learn more about heatstroke and other heat stress injuries, click here.