Extreme Heat (Hyperthermia)

The human body usually can regulate its temperature. When the body gets too hot, it uses several strategies to cool down, including sweating. But if a person spends too much time in the heat without taking in enough fluids, the body's cooling processes can't work properly. When the body becomes dehydrated, it can no longer cool itself by sweating. When this happens, body temperature can raise high enough to make the person sick. Heat stroke is a serious, potentially life-threatening form of heat illness. The body temperature rises to 1050F or higher and you develop neurological changes, such as mental confusion or unconsciousness. There are two main causes of heat stroke: Exertional heat stroke Non-exertional heat stroke Factors that can contribute to heat stroke include. Dehydration from not drinking enough water. Wearing bulky or heavy clothing, such as fire fighting gear, in the heat.Being overweight, which causes the body to generate more heat and reduces the body's ability to cool down ,Sleep deprivation, which can decrease the rate of sweating. Being unaccustomed to the heat, such as moving from a cooler climate to a warmer climate