Heat Advisory: Brookings Health System Reminds Public of Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke

Local meteorologists are predicting heat indexes as high as 115 degrees this weekend. Hot and humid weather puts people at risk.

"Prolonged exposure to a hot environment while working or playing without adequate fluid intake can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke, a life-threatening condition," says Karen Weber, Brookings Health System Emergency Department Nurse Manager.

Your body loses its ability to regulate temperature, and because your body is unable to cool down, your core temperature will quickly rise.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include severe sweating, muscle cramps, weakness, nausea and light headedness. Symptoms of heat stroke include high fever, absence of sweating, flushed skin, rapid heart rate, labored breathing, fatigue, dizziness, agitation, confusion, hallucinations and seizures.

Brookings Health System Emergency Department Physician, John Jerstad, reminds the public to "be cool - stay cool."

About Brookings Health System
The Brookings Health System located in Brookings, South Dakota includes a 49-bed hospital, the 79-bed Brookview Manor nursing home and the Brookhaven Estates apartments. It is a non-profit, city-owned facility that offers the community a full range of inpatient, outpatient, and extended care services. The emergency room is staffed 24 hours a day and provides round the clock medical-nursing care for patient needs ranging from minor injuries to life threatening crises. For more information about the services offered at Brookings Health System please call (605) 696-9000 or visit us on the Web at brookingshealth.org.