
If you need to be outside, dress comfortably in light, loose clothing and hydrate frequently. Stay indoors where there is air conditioning or, at the very least, use a fan to help cool your body. The best way to avoid heat-related illness is to avoid extreme heat whenever possible and stay hydrated, Zeigler said. Zeigler said doctors typically apply a "more aggressive means of cooling their bodies down to normal temperatures," as well as other necessary interventions. There's no good reason not to start them while you wait." The medics are going to be doing similar cooling efforts when they get them in the back of the ambulance. And place a cold washcloth on their neck. "As you wait for the emergency responders, start some cooling techniques," he said. "If you see someone who's looking red and hot but they're not sweating, and their temperature is really high and they're confused or unconscious, call 911 immediately," Zeigler said.
Searing temperature full#
For a full assessment and care, which may include intravenous fluids, they may be told to go to a hospital emergency room. People experiencing heat exhaustion who are vomiting or don't experience relief from their symptoms after an hour of at-home treatment should see a doctor, Zeigler said. In addition, those who are experiencing heat exhaustion can take a cool shower or place cold washcloths on the sides of their necks.

"That goes hand-in-hand with your body's ability to cool itself," he said. They are also advised to drink plenty of water to keep themselves hydrated. Zeigler recommends that people get out of the heat-at least into the shade, but preferably indoors into air conditioning. People with mild heat exhaustion can be treated at home, Zeigler said. "But when your temperature is totally unregulated like that, you're looking at outcomes that are similar to those from a 'regular' stroke." "We certainly see our share of heat stroke patients, and thankfully some recover fully," Zeigler said. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are roughly 600 heat-related deaths in the United States each year. Heat stroke is a medical emergency and people may become extremely disoriented or pass out.
Searing temperature skin#
"At that point, your temperature is going to shoot up very high-103 degrees or higher-and your skin will become red and hot," Zeigler said. Heat stroke develops when the body is no longer able to cool itself. "They're all signs that your body is running at full steam trying to cool itself down," Zeigler said. Symptoms may include excessive sweating, cold, pale and clammy skin, muscle cramping, nausea or vomiting, fainting, dizziness and headaches. "Heat exhaustion is what most of us think of as being 'overheated' in the summer," he said.

Zeigler explained the difference between the two. "As a result, their circulatory system-their cooling system-no longer works as well, making them predisposed for heat exhaustion and heat stroke." "They live in some degree of constant dehydration, regardless of the weather conditions," Zeigler explained in a health system news release. Those who have heart failure, kidney failure, poor circulation or high blood pressure are also high-risk, as are infants and very young children.Īccording to Zeigler, people over 65 are the most vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. Jed Zeigler, an emergency medicine specialist at Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center in Enola, Pa., explains that people who struggle to control their body temperature are more susceptible to the dangers of extreme heat. While anyone can develop heat-related illness from prolonged exposure to excessive heat and/or high humidity, including athletes or those whose job requires them to spend time outside, some people are particularly vulnerable.ĭr.
