Dangers of Heat Stroke
internal balance, otherwise known as homeostasis,
What is it?
By Dr. Jazmin
Heatstroke is a condition that results from prolonged
high temperature exposure combined with
dehydration which leads to failure of the bodys
temperature control system. Heat stroke is a form of
hyperthermia, which occurs when the bodys
temperature is higher than average (98.6 degrees
Fahrenheit).
Who it
Affects
and
Where
Outdoor laborers
compose the
largest percentage of those more prone to heatstroke.
Based on the article in the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) web page, people
who have heat strokes will show symptoms such as
confusion, slurred speech, irritability, vomit,
throbbing headaches, dizziness, red, hot and dry skin,
rapid heartbeat (strong or weak), and fast, shallow
breathing-- and where the worse scenarios may lead
to sudden death or coma. As evidenced by James
Glazer, American Family Physician, on June 1,
2007 in the epidemiologic studies, the study of the
distribution and determinants of health-related states
or events, heat stroke in urban areas of U.S during
very warm periods accounts for relatively twenty
cases per a hundred thousand people and accounts for
at least two hundred forty deaths in the country
annually.
https://familydoctor.org/condition/heat-exhaustion-
heatstroke/
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/index.html
The Science behind Heat
strokes
By Dr. Cindy
When the bodys temperature rises above normal
(98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) it is called hyperthermia. A
more severe form of hyperthermia is called heat
stroke, a heat injury where the body temperature rises
to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. In order to maintain an
the body thermo regulates itself by maintaining its
normal temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
According to paragraph five of Kimberly Hollands
article Thermoregulation at Healthline which was
medically reviewed by the University of Illinois-
Chicago, College of Medicine, when the body
temperature changes, sensors in its Central nervous
system (CIC) send messages to the hypothalamus at
the base of the brain, which sends messages to
various organs and systems in the body. As
evidenced by Craig C. Freudenrich, a science writer
with a Ph.D. in Physiology, in the article titled How
Sweat Works at HowStuffWorks Health, in the case
of a rise in temperature, the body begins hidrosis, or
simply, to sweat. As the sweat glands produce sweat,
it evaporates and cools the body. Despite the bodys
ability to homeostatically regulate itself, heat stroke
is possible. There are times when one cannot sweat--
due to dehydration. If one cannot sweat, then the
body cannot cool down-- which can prove to be fatal.
Treatment
By Dr. Savannah
As stated by Robert S. Helman, Medicine Director at
the Premier Care, in an article titled Heatstroke
Treatment and Management, studies have shown
that promptly reducing the exposure time and
excessive heat can dramatically improve long-term
outcomes and decrease irreversible injury. If
treatment is administered within the golden-hour
and is aggressive enough to rapidly reduce body
temperature, the patient may have a chance at
recovering. The Wilderness Society suggests that ice-
water immersion is the patients best bet to lower
extreme body temperatures below critical levels.
With every method comes a disadvantage. The
patient may feel uncomfortable subcutaneous
vasoconstriction may occur. The prevention of
transfer of heat increases shivering and raises
concerns for monitoring patients responses, and
making it harder to resuscitate the patient. Another
method called evaporative heat loss is less effective
than ice-water immersion, producing practical
complications. This process requires the patient to
remove his or her clothing and to have periodically
sprayed the body with warm water while a powerful
fan faces them allowing the heat to evaporate.

Can I Prevent It
Various ways to avoid heat strokes account for:
Wear lightweight clothing
Protect against possible sunburn
Drink plenty of fluids (stay hydrated)
Never leave anyone in parked cars
Always be cautious in humid weather
www.mayoclinic.org/
Current Technology versus
Improvement
By Dr. Oscar
Heatstroke, a heat injury that has the potential to be
fatal, can be preventable-- but the technologies on the
market that attempt to prevent heatstroke are not
reliable. The current leading product today is
the: seventy-five millimeter Heat Index Monitor
with Black Ball from GENERAL ELECTRONICS
distributed by Home Depot. This product offers
...accurate heat index readings as well as humidity
and outside temperature readings to warn and prevent
the user of the risk of heatstroke. However, there are
issues that this product brings forward that can be
fixed. As referenced in the Home Depot page for this
product under the specifications section, the website
states that the product is not impact nor water
resistant. This serves as an issue for the end user
because the device can be easily damaged and begin
to deter inaccurate readings, reducing the reliability
and costly repair. Although reliable, this device is not
cost-effective, (price ranges from $137-$200) is not
impact nor water resistant, not durable, and difficult
to operate- thus, not user-friendly. Importantly, the
competitors technology cannot tolerate the work
conditions of most migrant workers, which are toil.
At Noardor, there is a product that is currently being
developed. Like the current technology, the product
will be a device that prevents heat strokes by
monitoring the body temperature of the user, their
heart rate, and the external temperature. When the
user is at risk of heat stroke as determined by the data
the device collects from the body temperature, heart
rate, and external temperature, the device will call for
medical assistance. The device will be wearable and
compact, and run on solar energy-- being energy
efficient. The product envisioned is that it will
constantly be monitoring the user as long as the user
is needs it
Heat Stokes Statistics
By Dr. Diamond
When a persons body temperature rises to one-
hundred four degrees F, they are experiencing what is
called heat stroke. According to Michael Kuhne, a
writer at AccuWeather, in an article titled Hundreds
Die From Exposure to Heat, Humidity Each Year,
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) have reported that there have been 7,233 heat-
related deaths in the U.S. within 10 years from 1999-
2009. In addition, heat exhaustion statistics from
Health Research Funding states that in 2006, 3100
U.S. workers were injured from heat related issues.
Subjection to extreme natural heat was the cause of
31 percent of deaths from heat exhaustion. As stated
by the United States Department of Labor (USDOL),
2,630 workers suffered from injuries and illnesses in
2014.
A Savior for Heat Stroke
By Dr. Valeria
Noardors newest device will help prevent the risk of
death or injury from heat stroke. The device will be
wearable and attach to the upper part of the arm close
to the underarm to measure accurately close to the
body's core temperature. In the device, there will be a
small built-in solar panel, allowing the item to charge
itself on the go which is a necessity if it will be
constantly monitoring ones personal health. The
device will monitor body temperature status through
a built-in microchip that will keep a constant watch
over person's temperature. If the device senses that
the reading is higher than regular (98.6 degrees
Fahrenheit), it will begin to notify the consumer
through a beeping noise the severity of the situation.
At critical, the device will recognize when
approaching danger and will alarm the nearest
hospital. The device will also have a separate sensor
that analyzes and measures the heart rate and makes
sure a healthy pulse is maintained, as a rapid heart
rate may signify heat stroke. When the heart pumps
blood into the veins, the light from the infrared
sensor increases due to blood pressure and gets
reflected back into a detector. If a change in the
amount of light occurs that means blood pressure
increased or decreased.
References:
https://www.generaltools.com/blog/how-do-infrared-
thermometers-work/