Is it heat stroke or sudden cardiac arrest?
Since many sports begin practicing in the hot summer weather weeks before school begins, it is important that athletes and coaches are aware of your school’s PAD program and know how to implement it. While heat stroke is different than sudden cardiac arrest, both require dialing 911, retrieval of the AED and possible CPR. Heat stroke can cause death, particularly if treatment is delayed more than two hours. Heat illness occurs when the body generates heat faster than it can be expelled and always is associated with dehydration and electrolyte loss. Body temperatures can range from 100 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit. Taken to the extreme, body temperatures can exceed 106 degrees and organ damage can occur. This is often referred to as heat stroke. Heat stroke causes a change in consciousness, which can result in fainting. Other symptoms of heat illness often are non-specific and difficult to recognize initially. The person may become fatigued, nauseated or light-headed and experience headach
