Heat Stroke – Signs and Symptoms

Heat stroke is a result of a core temperature of 40°C or more. The person will present with an altered level of consciousness with organ dysfunction taking place internally.

There are two types of heat stroke:

• Non-extertional heat stroke caused by high temperatures and high humidity.
• Exertional heat stroke caused by heat production such as an arborist with a high work rate, wearing protecitve clothing

Signs and symptoms can include:

• Core body temperature of 40°C or more
• Hot dry skin (although sweating is present in around half of all cases)
• Extreme fatigue, headache, fainting, facial flushing, vomiting and diarrhoea
• Irregular heart beats and drop in blood pressure
• Respiratory distress
• Liver and kidney failure.