The difference between heat stroke and heat exhaustion, and where find cooling centers in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- When the weather gets warm, it's tempting to get outside to enjoy summerlike temperatures.
But with fun in the sun comes risks for heat-related illnesses, which at their most severe, can be debilitating and even deadly.
Last year, heat-related health emergencies accounted for a 20% larger share of emergency room visits than they did in the five previous years.
Federal health officials say heat-related illnesses cause more than 600 deaths in the United States every year. 2023 was the warmest August on record globally and warmer than all other months except July.
Before heading outside to enjoy hot weather, here's a look at the differences between heat stroke and heat exhaustion, and what to do if you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms.
What is heat stroke?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness, and it happens when the body's temperature rapidly rises, the body's sweating mechanism fails and you're unable to cool down.
"When heat stroke occurs, the body temperature can rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes," the CDC says, and can cause permanent disability or death of not treated immediately.
Symptoms of heat stroke include:
- Confusion, altered mental status, slurred speech
- Loss of consciousness (coma)
- Hot, dry skin or profuse sweating
- Seizures
- Very high body temperature
If someone is suffering from a heat stroke, you should call 911 and move the person to a shaded or cool area. The CDC says to remove outer clothing and try to cool the person with cold water or an ice bath, cold wet cloths and cool water.
What is heat exhaustion?
Heat exhaustion on the other hand is "the body's response to excessive loss of water and salt," usually through excessive sweating, according to the CDC, and most often impacts the elderly, people with high blood pressure and those working in hot environments.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Irritability
- Thirst
- Heavy sweating
- Elevated body temperature
- Decreased urine output
Similar to heat stroke, if someone is suffering from heat exhaustion, you should take them to a clinic or emergency room for treatment. If that's not possible, then call 911. Give the victim liquids and get them away from the hot area, remove excess layers of clothing and use cold compresses to cool them down.
"For every incremental increase in temperature outside there is an accompanying increase in heart attack and that is made worse by air pollution and particulate matter in the air," Dr. William Gray, a cardiologist with Main Line Health, said.
Gray said bad air in the Philadelphia region especially in the summer increases the risk for heart and respiratory illnesses.
"There could be a relationship with more of these severe weather phenomena that we're seeing both [in the] United States and globally and an increase in headache and migraine attacks," said Dr. Fred Cohen from Mount Sinai Hospital.
Doctors also say the elderly and young children are most at risk for heat-related medical emergencies.
Extreme heat events in Philadelphia
In the event of an extremely hot forecast, the city of Philadelphia will declare a Code Red to help protect people who are unhoused. Code Reds also affect pet care.
If someone on the street needs help during extreme heat, call 215-232-1984 to get help, or call 911 in the case of an emergency.
Pet owners who do not provide their dogs adequate shade during a Code Red could face a $500 or more fine. To report a dog left out in extreme heat, call the ACCT Philly at 267-385-3800.
Residents can also sign up to receive ReadyPhiladelphia notifications about extreme heat.
To help everyone protect themselves from the dangerous heat, the CDC has a new heat and health initiative. The new initiative has an interactive dashboard where people can enter their zip code and get personalized heat forecast information for their location along with protective actions.
Where to find cooling centers around Philadelphia
On especially hot days, the city of Philadelphia will open designated cooling centers. According to the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation department, spraygrounds are scheduled to open on Memorial Day and remain open through Labor Day. Pools opening dates for 2024 have not yet been confirmed.
You can find a full list of the city's recreation centers, computer labs, older adult centers and more on the Parks & Rec website.
During previous heat emergencies, the city has also opened about a dozen Free Library locations to serve as cooling centers, as well as air-conditioned SEPTA cooling buses at multiple intersections.
