Heat Stroke Vs. Heat Exhaustion: Know The Warning Signs

With temperatures heating up, it’s important to understand the difference between heat stroke and heat exhaustion. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, each year, about 400 deaths and thousands of emergency department visits are caused by heat illnesses. While infants and people 65 and older are most at risk for a heat-related illness, it can affect anyone, even exercise enthusiasts.

Both conditions are related but different. According to Healthline, heat exhaustion occurs when your body loses excess amounts of water and salt, typically from sweating. On the other hand, heat stroke is a serious medical emergency that occurs when your body is unable to control its internal temperature. The outlet does note that heat stroke can be much more serious than heat exhaustion and requires immediate medical attention to prevent complications.

“If you’re experiencing heat exhaustion for an extended period of time, it can lead to heat stroke. Heat stroke can come on quickly if it’s very hot or you’re overexerting yourself,” they stated.

According to Corewell Health, the early warning signs of heat exhaustion are nausea, light-headedness, fatigue, muscle cramping, and dizziness. At the first sign of heat exhaustion, it is important to take certain steps to help get your temperature down and cool your body.

They suggest moving to an air-conditioned place, taking a cold shower or using cold compresses, drinking plenty of fluids, and removing tight or extra clothing layers. If heat exhaustion is not treated, it can develop into heat stroke.

On the other hand, heat stroke requires immediate medical attention. Someone experiencing heat stroke may have a headache, confusion, dry skin that doesn’t sweat, profuse sweating, slurred speech, hallucinations, rapid heart rate, nausea or vomiting, and may lose consciousness.

If a heat stroke is suspected, it’s important to take the following steps, which include calling 911 immediately, moving the person to a cooler place, using cold compresses to get their temperatures down, and lastly do not give them fluids. That may sound counterintuitive. However, giving someone water is generally not recommended because it may lead to pulmonary edema, which is a condition caused by too much fluid in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. Heat stroke can damage your brain and other vital organs and lead to death if not treated quickly.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people at the highest risk are older adults and children under the age of 4 because they have trouble regulating body temperature. Also, people with mental illness and chronic diseases like obesity and cystic fibrosis are at high risk as well.

Many health officials recommend staying hydrated by drinking extra fluids like sports drinks, lightly salted water, or broth. Also, limit your time outside, wear sunscreen, lightweight clothing, and a hat, and avoid strenuous activities.

As the weather gets warmer, we tend to spend more time outside under the hot sun. If you’re unable to find a cool place due to not having air conditioning or other reasons, you can find a cooling center near you here.

It's summertime, and you know what that means, scorching hot days that can turn your car into an oven on wheels. We've all been guilty of leaving stuff behind in our cars, but when the temperatures start rising, there are a few things you absolutely shouldn't leave baking in there.

Last year, Consumer Reports performed a series of temperature tests within enclosed vehicles at CR's Auto Test Track in Colchester, Conn. The objective was to gain a better understanding of how quickly the temperature inside a car can escalate to unsafe levels. These experiments were conducted using precision measuring instruments.

During one of the tests, which took place on a June day with an average outside temperature of 61°F, the interior of a parked car surpassed 105°F within the first hour.

On a different occasion in July, with an average outside temperature of 78°F, the interior of a lighter-colored sedan reached over 104°F during a one-hour test period. Simultaneously, the interior of a dark-colored sedan climbed to more than 109°F.

Consumer Reports provided the temperature readings after one hour of testing. However, it's important to note that the interior temperatures continued to rise as time elapsed.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a warning stating that even on a seemingly mild day of around 60°F, the temperature inside a vehicle can dangerously escalate to 110°F over the course of several hours.

Life can get hectic, and sometimes we forget stuff in our cars. But when the temperatures rise, let's avoid turning our cars into hotboxes of doom. It'll save you from unnecessary headaches and ensure your stuff stays in tip-top shape.

The next time you hop out of your car, do a quick scan to make sure you're not leaving behind anything that'll suffer from the heat. Here are seven items that you should avoid leaving in your car on a scorching hot day.