As we get into the hottest days of the summer so far in Iowa, heat-related illnesses become a real threat.

Greene County Public Health Director Becky Wolf explains the differences between heat exhaustion and heat stroke. She says heat exhaustion happens when someone is exposed to high temperatures resulting in dehydration. The signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include: confusion, dark urine, dizziness, fatigue, headache, possible nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, fainting, and a high heart rate.   

Wolf points out if heat exhaustion isn’t treated, that person could advance into having a heat stroke. The signs and symptoms of heat stroke include: a core body temperature of 104-degrees or higher, a throbbing headache, dizziness, they stop sweating, their skin turns red, hot and dry; muscle weakness or cramping; rapid heart rate; vomiting, along with confusion and disorientation. Wolf adds heat stroke is an emergency situation.

“It’s because it leads to the failure of our body’s temperature control system to fail. And that result in brain damage and other vital organ damage, and it can even cause death if we don’t get on it and recognize it quickly.”

If someone is suffering from heat stroke, Wolf suggests getting the person indoors and to a cool place, put ice on pressure points of the body and get them to the emergency room.