Chelan Douglas Health Officer: How to Identify Differences Between Heat Stroke & Heat Exhaustion

North Central Washington is in the midst of an excessive heat warning with triple digit, record breaking temperatures which raises the possibility of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

When body temperature starts to rise, cooling measures are deployed, such as sweating. When the sweating doesn't do the trick and a person is getting increasingly dehydrated, that's when folks experience symptoms.

"One of the most dramatic (symptoms) most people feel is cramping, like all of your abdominal muscles or your back cramps," said Dr. Malcolm Butler, Chelan Douglas Health Officer. "Then you usually develop a headache, feeling ick, nausea. That would be heat exhaustion."

When these symptoms arise, it's important to cool down immediately. This can be done by going inside somewhere cool, using a cold compress or even pouring cold water on the body.

"When our brain temperature starts going up then we get confused, more nauseated and develop a very severe headache," said Dr. Butler. "That would be an emergency and at that point you need to call 911 and get to the Emergency Department."

Dr. Butler also noticed a symptom of an impending heat stroke is a lack of sweating, but a bright red face.