How to Tell the Difference Between Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion

You can tell the difference between heat stroke and heat exhaustion by the overall condition of the victim. Although similar, the two need to be approached with different levels of urgency. While heat exhaustion is a overheating of the body, heat stroke is a severe condition that can result in bodily harm.

Instructions

Decipher the Details of Heat Illnesses

• 1

  Realize why heat exhaustion occurs. You can tell if a person has heat exhaustion if she shows a marked improvement after drinking a small amount of fluids and being in the shade. A person who is not used to the heat is prone to this type of exhaustion.

• 2

  Understand how the body normally cools down. When the temperature climbs, the body cools itself through evaporation of sweat. A heat stroke victim might be dry since this routine process breaks down and does not function properly.

• 3

  Learn about electrolytes. This is a combination of fluids and salts in the body. When electrolytes are lost and fluids are not replaced this disrupts the circulatory system of the body. This is a common cause of heat exhaustion. Ingesting a sports drink can help.

• 4

  During heat stroke the body is further along in the overheating process than when exhausted. It becomes harder to replenish fluids and cool down.

Learn the Difference Between the Conditions

• 5

  Look for the quick occurrence of heat stroke. It comes on faster than heat exhaustion and has more extreme consequences and symptoms such as dry mouth, gaunt appearance and vomiting.

• 6

  Monitor a rise in body temperature. This can help you distinguish the two conditions. If a victim's temperature is 103 degrees F or above, it's at a heat stroke level.

• 7

  Evaluate the potential heat stroke victim. Determine if the person is coherent. When experiencing heat exhaustion a patient is conscious, just overheated. With the onset of heat stroke, a person can have mild hallucinations or show signs of mental incapacity.

• 8

  Ask questions. Determine if a person is experiencing heat stroke rather than exhaustion. Heart patients on a low-sodium diet can suffer heat stroke because they lose important body fluids containing salt. Taking certain medications can also contribute to heat stroke.