How to Avoid Heat Stroke

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It’s the time of year when people are most prone to developing heat stroke. It happens when your internal body temperature is higher than 105 degrees.

Heat kills around 650 people on average each year in the U.S. But there are several signs to look out for to avoid a trip to the emergency room.

“We drink a lot of water. We make sure we do that and if it gets really hot we find some shade,” says Thomas Hann, a summer construction worker.

Thomas Hann works outside doing construction every summer and he has seen his co-workers experience signs of heat stroke.

“They get a little dizzy, some in the past,” Hann says.

In Hann’s case, he’s exposed to extreme heat on a daily basis.

But other conditions can lead to heat stroke as well.

“People that are on certain medications or have certain other medical conditions are more prone to it,” says Essentia ER Physician Christopher Anderson.

There are several symptoms of heat exhaustion that you can identify to avoid heat stroke. Dizziness, confusion, an increased body temperature, a racing heart rate, and flushed skin.

But there’s one sign in particular that means you need to seek professional help.

“If the individual stops sweating that’s usually a pretty good sign that they’re body is extremely dehydrated,” says Occupational Medicine Manager Chuck Ulrich.

Most heat stroke cases can be treated quickly in the emergency room. But there are dangerous exceptions.

“You can end up with alteration of your mental status and you’d have difficulty with cognition and other neurological function and you can have damage to certain organs,” Anderson says.

And while it’s important to monitor the amount of time you are in direct sunlight, staying hydrated is key.

“Know what your body is telling you as far as how much you’re sweating, how long you’re being exposed to the excessive heat, and keep a good flow of water going into your body at all times throughout the day,” says Ulrich.

Officials also say that young children and elderly people have a higher risk of getting heat stroke.

They also want to remind people to reapply sunscreen at least every two hours.