heat stroke

Triathlon - Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 5

Health & Safety

Heat training can help athletes -- and the rest of us -- adapt to hotter weather

7:01am August 04, 2024

by Pien Huang

Some Olympic athletes prepared for Paris with a technique for acclimatizing to hot weather. Healthy people can take a cue from them, medical experts say, to build up tolerance for heat.

Health & Safety

Guilford County Emergency Services shares safety tips during extreme heat

4:18pm June 25, 2024

by David Ford

Guilford County encourages residents to learn about the difference in heat-related illnesses. Heat exhaustion occurs when the body loses an excessive amount of water and salt, typically due to profuse sweating. Heat stroke, the most severe heat-related illness, occurs when the body loses its ability to regulate temperature.

EMTs help a patient in Austin, Texas, this week. The man had passed out near the state capitol and was dehydrated. Cities with few trees and areas of shade are hotter during heat waves.

Health & Safety

How heat makes health inequity worse, hitting people with risks like diabetes harder

6:43am August 10, 2023

by Yuki Noguchi

Heat is dangerous for the many people with common conditions like diabetes or heart disease. And vulnerable communities face greater exposure to heat and fewer resources to escape it.

Queue Listen Now

When patients arrive with heat stroke, medical teams quickly cover them from head to toe with bagged or even loose ice to lower their core temperatures back below 100 Fahrenheit, according to Dr. Jeffrey Elder, who leads emergency management at the New Orlean's largest hospital, University Medical Center. ER staffers also use misting fans on patients and administer IV fluids for rapid rehydration.

Health & Safety

In broiling cities like New Orleans, the health system faces off against heat stroke

5:00am July 30, 2023

by Drew Hawkins

Like other places, New Orleans has seen record numbers of people falling ill with heat-related conditions. First responders and hospitals race to respond with ice, fluids, and air conditioning.

Multiple line charts showing rising rates of heat-related illness in 2023 compared to previous years.

This CDC data shows where rates of heat-related illness are highest

12:55pm July 26, 2023

Emergency rooms report when patients visit with health problems caused by heat. Find out when and where rates of illness are spiking, and explore trends over the last five years.

It was 118 degrees after 5 p.m. in Phoenix, Arizona on July 18, 2023. More than 80 million people have been under heat warnings, as relentless temperatures continue to bake the western and southern U.S.

Health & Safety

Here's what happens to the body in extreme temperatures — and how heat becomes deadly

7:10pm July 23, 2023

by Maria Godoy

Multiple organ failure, heart attack and kidney failure are the primary ways people die in extreme heat. Read on to find out how to stay safe in the heat wave.

Luna the French Bulldog dressed up for the National Independence Day Parade in Washington, DC, on July 4th.

5 tips to keep your pet safe — and comfortable — in extreme heat

5:00am July 15, 2023

by Rachel Treisman

"If it's hot outside for you, it's most likely even hotter for your pet," one expert tells NPR. Here's how to protect your pet outdoors, keep them engaged inside and respond to signs of heat stroke.

As the heat breaks records, remember that preventing heatstroke or heat exhaustion takes planning ahead to ensure you stay hydrated and can cool off frequently.

Health & Safety

8 mistakes to avoid if you're going out in the heat

5:28am July 12, 2023

You can still enjoy the outdoors this summer despite the scorching weather, if you're smart about it. Here's what to watch out for and how to stay safe.

When working out in the summer, watch for the signs of dehydration and heat stroke. Choosing a later evening or early morning time for a run in one smart way to stay safe.

How To Heat-Proof Your Summer Workout

5:49pm July 19, 2021

by Suzette Lohmeyer

With much of the U.S. already sweltering this summer, even avid runners, hikers and bikers are wilting. We've got 10 strategies from experts on how to enjoy hot weather exercise without keeling over.

Mario Ramos (left) and wife Tally adjust their umbrellas in Laguna Beach, Calif. The state was among a number of places this summer that experienced their highest temperatures on record.

So Far, More Heat Waves Do Not Mean More Heat Deaths

7:00am August 26, 2018

by Christopher Joyce

The spread of air conditioning may have kept some people from dying in this summer's extreme heat. But studies project more heat-related illnesses as the climate warms.