How To Treat A Heat Stroke

A heat stroke is the most serious kind of heat-related injury and a medical emergency. If you suspect someone has sunstroke or heat stroke, call 911 as soon as possible and administer first aid while waiting for paramedics to arrive. Heat stroke has the potential to damage the brain and other internal organs, and can even be life-threatening. Heat stroke tends to occur in people over fifty, but young individuals can experience it as well. The medical definition of a heat stroke is when a person's core body temperature rises higher than 104 degrees Fahrenheit, which causes complications to the central nervous system. Other symptoms can occur, including seizures, nausea, disorientation, confusion, and loss of consciousness. Time is of the essence when someone has heat stroke. These are the steps you should take.

Call For Emergency Medical Care

Before doing anything else, dial 911 to call for emergency medical care. If you're close enough to a hospital to rush the person there, you can do that. You cannot have any delays in seeking medical help, as the longer the heat stroke lasts without professional intervention, the higher the chances of permanent brain damage.

If there is a delayed emergency response, call the emergency room to get in-depth instructions on how to treat the person. It's vital they be treated before the heat stroke becomes worse. Those who are hiking or those who live in rural areas may not have access to a fast emergency responding team. For this reason, if you intend to hike outdoors, especially in hot weather, become familiar with basic treatments for heat stroke.

Continue reading for another tip on treating heat stroke.