Texas Heat Kills: Signs of Heat Stroke and How to Avoid Permanent Damage

West Texas has been feeling the heat with triple digits over the past week. No matter how many times you experience the brutal temperatures that August brings, you always seem to forget just how bad it is as the next year comes around.

As someone that grew up in Arizona and experienced 100+ degree summers for the majority of my life, you learn different ways to stay safe in the heat. While you might acclimate to hotter temps over time and be able to endure it more than those in colder climates, everyone is still in danger of overheating.

Get our free mobile app

One of the biggest things you must watch out for while in the summer sauna is heat stroke and other heat related illnesses.

Heat stroke is highly dangerous if not properly treated, and the best thing to do is take preventative measures to avoid it happening in the first place. Symptoms to look out for include a high body temperature of 103 or more, fast pulse, headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, passing out, hot, red, dry, or clammy skin.

If you are with someone that appears to be experiencing a heat stroke, you should call 911, move them to a cooler place, and help lower their body temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath. It is also important to not give them anything to drink because they could have an altered level of consciousness, making it unsafe for them to try and swallow fluids.

If heat stroke goes untreated it can lead to organ failure, a coma, or even death.

There are a variety of other heat related illnesses to watch out for, and you can find full details about each at CDC.gov.