Heat exhaustion is the first step toward heat stroke, which is something you do not want to have because it can kill you. Once you have either heat exhaustion or heat stroke you will find that when it gets extremely hot outside your body is not able to handle the heat as well as it did before you had either one of these. With most of the nation suffering from this heat wave, this is something that everyone should know and know how to take care of if it happens to you or someone you know.
Although the signs of heat exhaustion can vary here are the general symptoms:
- You start to sweat heavily
- You become pale
- You start to have muscle cramps
- You are more tired than usual
- You start to feel weak
- You get dizzy
- You have a headache
- You start to get sick to your stomach or start vomiting
- You may faint
- Your skin will feel cool and moist with a fast but weak pulse rate.
- Your breathing will be fast but shallow.
If you or someone that you know is showing any of these signs of heat exhaustion, here are the things that you should do.
- Make sure that you drink something cool like water or unsweetened tea because sometimes drinks with sugar in them will only make you thirstier.
- Get out of the heat and rest, either in front of a fan and/or the air conditioner.
- Take a cool bath or shower.
- Wear clothing that is lightweight.