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According to the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center, more than 100 million Americans have been advised to stay indoors during a historic heat wave that broke several records in recent weeks in the West and Southwest.
With this record-setting heat wave now hitting many across the East Coast, it’s more important than ever to notice the signs and symptoms and take preventive actions so you and your family can avoid heatstroke, heat exhaustion andsevere dehydration.
5 Ways to Tell If You’re Dehydrated—and What to do About It
What Is Heatstroke?
According to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, the common symptoms of heatstroke include:
Heatstroke requires immediate medical attention and often intravenous fluids to compensate for the loss of fluid and electrolytes.
After calling 911, here are some immediate steps to take if you or someone else is experiencing heatstroke:
What Is the Difference Between Heatstroke and Heat Exhaustion?
Heatstroke and heat exhaustion may seem like similar ailments, but the treatments for these conditions do differ. Heatstroke is the most severe of all heat-related ailments, but knowing the symptoms of heat exhaustion can help you keep it from developing into heatstroke.
Heat exhaustion and heatstroke both cause nausea and vomiting, but heat exhaustion often shows its first signs in the form of decreased urination, headaches, dizziness and fainting.
If you feel you may be experiencing heat exhaustion, move to a cooler place, take frequent, small sips of water, loosen your clothing to allow air flow and apply cool, wet cloths or ice packs to your body or take a cool bath. If you don’t feel better an hour after treating your symptoms of heat exhaustion, you may be developing heatstroke and will need immediate medical attention.
Can Hydration Prevent Heatstroke?
Water is also helpful externally, as well as internally. Spraying or sponging cool water on your body can help to keep your internal body temperature in a safe zone.
What is important to note is the difference between prevention and cure. Hydration can absolutely help prevent heatstroke, but heatstroke is an illness that requires immediate medical attention that water alone often cannot cure. It’s important to take quick action to prevent heatstroke from developing into an increasingly life-threatening medical emergency.
The Bottom Line
As temperatures rise nationwide, it’s important for all of us, from Seattle to Orlando alike, to note the signs and symptoms of heatstroke, heat exhaustion and severe dehydration.Johns Hopkins Medicinesuggests hydration is the first line of defense, with water, cool sports drinks containing salt and sugar, and noncaffeinated and nonalcoholic beverages key to preventing these ailments.
Rescheduling outside activities or exercise to cooler times of the day (or moving indoors) will also help avoid too much exposure to excess heat. And as the temperatures inch toward (and above) 90 degrees across the country this summer, wearing light-colored, loose-fitting clothes and gradually acclimating to the humidity and heat will help you make your summer all the more comfortable, fun and safe.
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