Heat strokes are a serious condition

Kathryn Hawley

Heat stroke is a serious condition and without emergency treatment, death or complications can occur. When the body’s temperature rises quickly the body is unable to cool itself down.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, infants and children up to four year of age, people overweight, people on certain medication, those who are ill and people 65 years and older are at the greatest risk for complication for heat related illness.

To find out the signs of a heat stroke versus heat exhaustion, go to https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/faq.html. The Department of Health & Senior Services have Cooling Center Sites in Missouri that are available to the public as a place to go during extreme hot weather conditions. Type in your location to find the nearest Cooling Center at https://ogi.oa.mo.gov/DHSS/coolingCenter/index.html .

Kathryn Hawley, RN & Health Educator, Nodaway County Health Dept.