‘Do I Have Heat Stroke?’ Here Are Some Signs, New Jersey Experts Say

NEW JERSEY — When temperatures rise too high, the brain and body overheat, increasing the risk of serious illnesses like heat stroke. The good news? There are warning signs before your body blows a gasket – you just need to know how to read them, experts in New Jersey say.

With the state expected to be hit with an ugly heat wave this week, the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School is reminding Garden State residents to stay cool and know when they need to ask for help.

Everyone is at risk for heat-related illnesses, including heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat rash and sun poisoning, which occurs with severe sunburn. However, the most vulnerable groups include children, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, people with disabilities and those who spend long times outdoors or without air conditioning, the New Jersey Poison Control Center says. See Related: Battle Over Hot Workplace Law Ignites In NJ As Sweltering Summer Nears

One especially dangerous condition is heat stroke – a medical emergency that requires quick action.

According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, heat stroke is as bad as it gets when it comes to heat illnesses. It happens when the body can no longer control its temperature: the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails and the body is unable to cool down. It can cause permanent disability – or death – if the person doesn’t get emergency treatment.

The Mayo Clinic says that a core body temperature of 104 degrees or higher is the main sign of heat stroke.

There are some early warning signs that you’re experiencing heat stroke, the New Jersey Poison Control Center says. They include:

• stomach and muscle cramps
• nausea
• vomiting
• headache
• dizziness
• weakness
• heavy sweat or a lack of sweat

People experiencing heat stroke may also show signs of confusion/odd behavior, be extra irritable and have delusions and/or hallucinations. More serious symptoms include seizures and comas, the New Jersey Poison Control Center says.

It's no time to fool around, experts say.

“If you think a person may be experiencing heat stroke, seek immediate medical help,” the Mayo Clinic suggests.

Aside from calling 9-1-1, you can help the person by:

• Getting them into the shade or indoors
• Removing excess clothing
• Cooling the person with “whatever means available” — put in a cool tub of water or a cool shower, spray with a garden hose, sponge with cool water, fan while misting with cool water, or place ice packs or cold, wet towels on the person's head, neck, armpits and groin

“Sadly, heat-related deaths and illnesses happen every year,” said Diane Calello, executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

It isn’t just hot outdoor temperatures that can put you at risk, Calello added.

“Excessive heat combined with certain substances like ecstasy (MDMA), cocaine, methamphetamine, alcohol and heroin can be deadly,” Calello said. “Being under the influence of these substances can make it hard to recognize symptoms of overheating.”

Medicines like antidepressants, antihistamines, diuretics, antipsychotics and stimulants for ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) can also cause heat-related complications, the New Jersey Poison Control Center says.

HOT WEATHER TIPS

A little bit of knowledge goes a long way when it comes to heat illnesses, experts say. Here are some hot weather safety tips from the New Jersey Poison Control Center:

• Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day, even if you are not thirsty. Avoid sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages, which can dehydrate you.
• Stay Cool: Avoid direct sun. Try to stay indoors in air-conditioned areas, especially when the sun is the hottest (early afternoon through early evening).
• Dress Light: The best clothing for extreme heat is light-colored, loose-fitting, and lightweight.
• Wear Sunscreen and Wide-Brimmed Hat: If outside, apply sunscreen liberally and frequently to protect against sunburn and sun poisoning. Sunburn can cause you to become dehydrated. Remember that sweating, swimming, or otherwise being exposed to water will wash away sunscreen. Remember to reapply sunscreen throughout the day.
• Keep Pets Safe: If it is too hot for you, it is too hot for them. Give pets lots of fresh water and keep them indoors in air-conditioned areas as much as possible. Surfaces in direct sun get dangerously hot. If the ground is too hot to touch, pets shouldn’t be walking or lying on it. Give them a shaded area outside.
• Hot Cars Kill: Leaving people or pets in hot, parked cars can be deadly in a short amount of time. Even cars parked in the shade with their windows open reach deadly internal temperatures. Under no circumstance should you ever leave people or pets inside a parked car during extreme weather.

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