The doctor instructed Garcia to give him a cold bath and put ice packs on his body to help him cool off as well as give him Tylenol to help with the high temperature. He told her to watch for nausea, confusion, and lethargy because if he continued to have those symptoms, then she would have to take him to the emergency room.
Garcia did everything by the book and after 15 minutes she took his temperature again and his temperature began to decrease. Luckily, she followed her gut feeling and acted quickly because otherwise, her child might have suffered from something more serious like a heat stroke.
What are the signs?
There are two types of heat exhaustion. The first is associated with the lack of water, where a person has excessive thirst, weakness, headache, and loss of consciousness. The second is the lack of salt, which can include nausea and vomiting, muscle cramps, and dizziness.
During the hot summer months it’s important to limit the time you spend outside and if you are going to be spending a lot of time outside, make sure you take breaks and come inside where it’s cool. Try to stay away from the direct sunlight, find some shade and wear sunscreen. Also, drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine and alcohol. Don’t wear tight clothes or dark colors; instead wear light, loose-fit clothing. Make sure you check the temperature and pay attention to the heat index; anything above 90 degrees can put you at risk for heat exhaustion. Don’t forget about your pets too, because they too can suffer from heat exhaustion.
