- Heat stroke is a form of hyperthermiaThis is a condition in which the body's temperature is higher than normal More in which the body temperature is elevated dramatically.
- Heat stroke is a medical emergency and can be fatal if not promptly and properly treated.
- The cause of heat stroke is an elevation in body temperature, often accompanied by dehydration 1.
Different people may have different symptoms and signs of heatstroke. Common symptoms and signs of heat stroke include –
- high body temperature,
- the absence of sweating, with hot red or flushed dry skin, or damp skin,
- headache
- dizziness
- confusiontrouble focusing, slow or disorganised thinking, poor short-term memory, unsure of time or place, or having difficulty following a conversation
- nausea 2,
- rapid pulse,
- strange behaviour,
- agitation,
- disorientation,
- seizure, and/or coma 1.
What to do
- Call 999 or 911 right away – heat stroke is a medical emergency.
- Move the person to a cooler place.
- Help lower the person’s temperature with cool cloths or with whatever means available – sponge with cool water, fan while misting with cool water.
- DO NOT give the person anything to drink 2.
Complications
Heatstroke can result in a number of complications, depending on how long the body temperature is high. Severe complications may include –
- Vital organ damage. Without a quick response to lower body temperature, heatstroke can cause your brain or other vital organs to swell, possibly resulting in permanent damage.
- Death. Without prompt and adequate treatment, heatstroke can be fatal 3.
Footnotes:
1
medicinenet, Heat Stroke, 2018, https://www.medicinenet.com/heat_stroke/article.htm
2
CDC, Warning Signs and Symptoms of Heat-Related Illness, 2017, https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/warning.html
3
Mayo Clinic Staff, Heatstroke, 2017, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heat-stroke/symptoms-causes/syc-20353581