How to Deal With Heatstroke

Heatstroke is an overlooked risk when going out in hot weather. It is also preventable by taking some common sense precautions for your health.

Prepare for Hot Weather

Wear loose-fitting clothing and take it easy during the hottest parts of the day. It’s important to drink plenty of water as you get acclimated to higher temperatures. Don’t leave kids or dogs in a parked car, which can rise more than 20 degrees in 10 minutes on a hot day. Avoid sugars and alcohol, or anything that will dehydrate you.

Know the Warning Signs

Anxiety, increased heart rate, heavy sweating and red skin are the early warning signs for heatstroke. If left untreated, the symptoms could worsen to vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, even unconsciousness and seizures. The definition of heatstroke is the failure of the body to regulate its temperature, letting it rise as high as 104 degrees.

What to Do in an Emergency

If any of the above symptoms occur, the first thing to do is to move the person to a cool, shaded place and call 9-1-1. Heatstroke is a serious emergency and needs to be acted on quickly. Remove any unnecessary clothing to expose as much skin as possible to the air. Apply ice packs and cold water to cool the skin down; watch for difficulty breathing.

Follow These Medical Tips

Get the person’s temperature down to 102 or lower as soon as possible. Mouth and ear temperatures are not accurate in this situation, so check the person’s rectal temperature. Do not give aspirin or acetaminophen; painkillers and fever reducers can affect the body’s ability to respond to the heatstroke. Also, some people in heatstroke are not conscious enough to drink, so make sure they are alert enough for water.