Knowing heat stroke symptoms and signs can help you avoid the dangers of exposure to the heat while working, training or simply enjoying the great outdoors. You may think of hypothermia as a cold weather disease, however, heat stroke is a type of hypothermia where an individual’s body temperate becomes quickly elevated. It can be fatal if the person isn’t quickly seen by medical emergency personnel, as there are some steps, as found in the heat stroke symptoms guide, which can help to prevent injury and even death. There are also tools, such as the Kestrel 5400 Heat Stress Monitor, that can help determine when someone may be susceptible to heat stroke
The best way to prevent heat stroke is to avoid dehydration and to stay away from difficult physical activity in overly humid weather. While going for a walk around the block may seem like no big deal, vigorously training for a sport or for a job can really intensify the effect that heat and humidity has on the body, making you more susceptible to problems related to heat stroke.
Common symptoms and signs of heat stroke can look like a heart attack or other problem. In many cases, people report symptoms of heat exhaustion just prior to experiencing a full heat stroke. Signs and common symptoms of this dangerous condition include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakness, headache, muscle cramps, and dizziness. An individual may experience these symptoms all at once, or they may come on slowly, one at a time. Regardless, anyone who is experiencing these symptoms must get medical attention right away, as it is critical that they be evaluated and cooled down before their body temperature becomes too high.
Common Heat Stroke Symptoms and Signs
Most heat stroke symptoms guides will tell you that the symptoms of heat can really vary from person to person, so it’s important to recognize all possible signs, as prompt medical attention is often the only way to prevent death in dangerous heat conditions. If you notice anyone experiencing the following symptoms in addition to those already mentioned, seek medical attention for them right away as they could be indicative of a serious medical condition that may or may not be heat exhaustion:
- High body temperature
- Racing pulse
- Behavior that seems “off” or outside of their normal state
- Agitation
- Disorientation
- Confusion
- Coma
- Seizure
- Hallucinations
- A lack of sweating with hot, red, or flushed, dry skin
The elderly are typically at the greatest risk for heat stroke along with infants, however, it is those who work or train outdoors who are truly at the highest risk. The military, law enforcement and athletes all face a high risk of heat stroke due to their often prolonged time outdoors. Using a handheld meter to track temperature, wind speed and other factors is one way that those who are in charge can help to prevent heat-related illnesses in their staff, thereby reducing the number of needless deaths that occur as the result of not paying attention to those around you and not actively monitoring heat safety for those who are outdoors.