Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are serious medical conditions. Learn how to recognize the warning signs and protect your health.
When temperatures reach dangerous levels during the summer months, heat-related illnesses can set in quickly. Shalom Sokolow, MD, emergency medicine physician at Northwell’s Phelps Hospital, urges that everyone take the proper precautions.
“To stay safe during a heat wave, stay inside air conditioned spaces when possible, especially for older adults or those with a chronic illness,” he said. “Drink plenty of water and make a habit of filling up a water bottle to take with you when you go outside.”
Additional tips include:
- Wear a hat if you will be out in the sun
- Limit strenuous outdoor activities — particularly avoiding direct sun exposure between 10am and 3pm when the sun is at its strongest
- Take breaks for shade and water
- If you are outside and start to feel unwell, stop what you are doing, find an air conditioned space and drink water
- Check on elderly neighbors and relatives
Warning signs
The most common heat-related issue treated in emergency departments is heat exhaustion, which occurs when the body loses too much water and salt, typically through heavy sweating. Symptoms include dizziness, headache, nausea, muscle cramps, a rapid pulse and extreme fatigue. If left untreated, it can quickly escalate.
“If you experience any of these symptoms, rest, seek a cool space and hydrate,” Dr. Sokolow said.
Then there’s heat stroke, a severe and life-threatening medical emergency that requires immediate care. This occurs when the body can no longer regulate its own temperature, causing it to rise rapidly within minutes. Key warning signs include confusion, hot or dry skin (as the body loses its ability to sweat), a rapid pulse and loss of consciousness.
“If someone is experiencing a heat related illness that involves confusion or high body temperature, this could be heat stroke, which is an emergency and requires urgent medical attention.”
For those without access to air conditioning at home, find your nearest cooling center on the New York State Department of Health Cooling Center Finder.
Look for public cooling centers in libraries and community centers or your local city, town or village. A few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat.
