How to Treat Heatstroke
Nowhere is hotter than the surface of the sun, but when that sun is high in the sky on Earth and it’s over 40 degrees you may be at risk of heatstroke. What is heatstroke? It is when your body temperature goes above 140 F degrees and despite your extreme overheating you may not even be sweating if you have what’s called classic heatstroke and anhidrosis. That is different from exertional heatstroke, which as the name suggests is when someone has heatstroke because of working outdoors in very hot temperatures. Knowing how to treat heatstroke is important because it can trigger more serious health risk incidents.
Heat exhaustion can progress into heatstroke, and it’s common to have heat exhaustion symptoms like having headache pain and dizziness. But if that dizziness progresses into disorientation and the person’s skin becomes bright red that’s a sign, they’ve moved into having the risk of heatstroke and they may be starting to experience it. This is also a part of what is heatstroke, and you may also be surprised to learn that having cool, cold or moist skin and / or goose bumps despite super-hot temperatures all around them can also mean the person has heat exhaustion.
Whether it becomes heatstroke depends on them, as the quickest and best way for how to treat heatstroke is to have yourself immersed in a much cooler environment. If nothing in the way of a cool room or space is available, the person should at least find shade and get completely out of the sun. This will be more of a possible scenario for exertional heatstroke, and laborers in particular may need to be firm with the site supers if they feel they are starting to have heatstroke and know the first thing they need to do is get out of the sun.
Prioritize Cooldown
Exertional heatstroke can also occur to athletes who are competing in extremely hot environments. This was my first thought when I heard that the World Cup 23 was going to be held in Qatar, but it seems as if footballers with heatstroke wasn’t a problem. If there’s any sporting event where you would figure heatstroke IS going to happen would be the Badwater Ultramarathon that is an endurance running race in Death Valley, California. The temperatures there are routinely well above 110 F and it is so hot runners sometimes have problems with melting running shoe soles.
Maybe here’s the place you’ll be inclined to ask what is heatstroke, but no matter where or when it happens you can expand on your response to it and do more than just get into shade or a cool room. Drinking cold water but at a moderate pace can bring your core temperature down quickly, and if it’s possible to get ice packs then placing them on the neck, groin, scrotum, and armpits can also be really effective for getting cooler fast.
Another good piece of advice around what is heatstroke is that the person suffering from it should never take medications, and this includes OTC painkillers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The above information is intended to increase awareness of health information and does not suggest treatment or diagnosis. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
