Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- NewsChannel 9 spoke with the Chief of Emergency Medicine at Upstate Community General Hospital on Wednesday about recognizing the stages before heat stroke. One of them is getting a fever.
Robert Kratochwill is a triathlete. He says the heat doesn't bother him and he runs in all types of weather.
“I feel hot and sweaty, but I've got a water container with ice back at the bike,” said Kratochwill.
After a three mile run, his body temperature was 101 degrees. Temperatures that high can be an indicator of heat exhaustion.
“If you exercise hard in a hot environment, you can develop a heat related illness fairly quickly,” Doctor James Ciaccio said.
Dr. Ciaccio says heat stroke is one of the leading causes of death in young athletes.
“On a hot day like today, we will sweat more, we'll use more fluids, and if we're not hydrated then it's not as easy to sweat and we become more prone to heat stroke,” Dr. Ciaccio said.
Dr. Ciaccio says pay attention to these three stages of heat stroke:
- Heat Cramps -- When you sweat so much you actually change your body chemistry and your muscles cramp up
- Heat Exhaustion -- When your temperature rises to 101 and you feel tired and confused
- Heat stroke -- a medical emergency.
More tips on beating the heat can be found at the
New York State Department of Health’s website.
