Our qualified and caring Emergency Department staff is here for you!

How can you tell if you have heatstroke?  If you're in good enough shape to wonder, you probably don't have it.  Heatstroke is the last stop on the continuum of overheating.  By the time you get there, your temperature will have soared to 105 degrees or higher and you'll likely be delirious.

When the days get hot, the body's means of cooling itself is the evaporation of sweat.  Heatstroke occurs when extreme heat causes a malfunction in your body's internal thermostat.

Whether the heat is wet or dry, dehydration is your primary concern.  Since you sweat up to two quarts an hour, you'll need to match the loss by drinking water.  Failing to do this, or overexertion can cause your thermostat to short-circuit, slowing circulation and perspiration.  The shutdown triggers a rapid ascent in body temperature. You now qualify for heat exhaustion and are on the way to heatstroke.

Anytime you feel nauseated or weak, get out of the sun and drink something.  If you feel feverish, don't take an ice bath; it can actually worsen matters because your body will try to compensate for the sudden cold by slowing circulation even further.

Here are signs and symptoms of both heat exhaustion and heatstroke:

Heat Exhaustion

• Dizziness, fatigue, faintness, headache.
• Skin that is pale and clammy.
• Pulse rapid and weak.
• Breathing is fast and shallow.
• Muscle cramps.

Heatstroke

• Often preceded by heat exhaustion and its symptoms.
• Skin that is hot, dry and flushed.
• No sweating.
• High body temperature.
• Rapid heartbeat.
• Confusion.
• Loss of consciousness.

Be sure to call your doctor immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department if you have symptoms of heat exhaustion or heatstroke, or if you observe them on someone else.  These conditions are serious!

Placentia-Linda Hospital's Emergency Department is available for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.