In case you haven’t noticed, summer has finally arrived in the Puget Sound! And with summer comes lots of sun and higher temperatures than we’re used to.

This week, Public Health – Seattle & King County sent out information about heat stroke, its symptoms, and what you can do to prevent it.

Heat cramps are an early sign of heat exhaustion and are caused by dehydration. When a person feels pain or cramping in the legs and feel extra tired, that person might be having heat cramps. Public Health suggests that you have the person experiencing these symptoms rest in a cool space and drink something with electrolytes – a sports drink, like Gatorade or Powerade. If the person starts feeling better, make sure to keep them hydrated. Keep them drinking water and try to keep them from getting overheated.

If unable to address heat cramps, the person might begin to experience heat exhaustion. We experience heat exhaustion when our bodies have difficulty cooling themselves. Signs of heat exhaustion are:

• Cool, moist, or sweaty skin that is pale or flushed.
• Feeling fatigued, weakness, dizziness, and nausea.

Again, the best things to do are to have the person rest in a cool space or in the shade. Pour cool water over the skin and place a cold, wet towel on the back of the person’s neck. The person should sip some cool water or sports drink, but not too much or too fast. If the symptoms don’t get better within an hour or if they get worse, make sure to call 911 immediately.

When we experience heat stroke, our bodies are unable to regulate temperature – this is considered a medical emergency. Be sure to call 911 immediately. Symptoms of heat stroke include:

• Headache, dizziness, fatigue.
• Rapid pulse.
• Rising body temperature (105 degrees and higher).
• Confusion, delirium, or unconsciousness.

When you see someone with these symptoms, call 911. Have the person rest in a cool and shady space. Have them sip a sports drink if they can. Wet their skin with cool water or a wet towel, and place ice packs in the person’s armpits, around the neck, and in the groin. Also have a fan blowing cool air directly at the person, if possible.

Of course, the best thing to do is to prevent heat stroke in the first place! Here are a few tips:

Drink lots of fluids and avoid caffeine, alcohol, and drinks that contain lots of sugar.

Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothes.

Stay indoors and in cool spaces.

Protect yourself from the sun with a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

Limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening if possible. Rest often in shady areas during the heat of the day.

For more information on how to prevent heat stroke and take care of yourself this summer, visit Public Health’s website.

Information for this blog post was taken directly from a Public Health brochure on heat stroke and a Public Health flier on heat stroke. And here’s the flier in Spanish.