What is Heatstroke
Heatstroke is clinically defined as when a person’s temperature exceeds 104 o F/40o C and their thermoregulatory mechanism is overwhelmed.
Heatstroke Symptoms include:
- dizziness
- disorientation
- agitation
- confusion
- sluggishness
- seizure
- hot dry skin that is flushed or red but not sweaty
- loss of consciousness
- rapid heartbeat
- hallucinations
When a core body temperature of 107 o F/42o C or greater is reached then cells are damaged and internal organs begin to shut down. This cascade of events can rapidly lead to death. Children’s thermoregulatory systems are not as efficient as an adult’s and their body temperatures warm at a rate three to five times faster than an adult’s.
According to a study published in Pediatrics, Heat illness is divided into 3 phases:
- Heat stress – the physical discomfort and physiologic strain as a result of a hot environment.
- Heat exhaustion – a mild to moderate illness associated with dehydration and a core temperature ranging from 99o F/37°C to 104o F/40°C. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include intense thirst, weakness, discomfort, anxiety, dizziness, fainting, and headache.
- Heatstroke – a life-threatening illness characterized by an elevated core body temperature 104o F/40°C with central nervous system dysfunction resulting in delirium, convulsions, coma, and death.
Warning Signs of Heatstroke in children
- Hot, flush, or red
- Slow, weak pulse or strong, rapid pulse
- Lethargy, confusion, or strange behavior
- Nausea
- No sweating
How Vehicles Heat Up So Quickly
Source: NHTSA
Vehicle interiors can heat up to 125o F/52°C degrees within the first 20 minutes of sun exposure. How and why does this happen?
The atmosphere and the windows of a vehicle are relatively “transparent” to the sun’s shortwave radiation and are warmed. However, this shortwave energy does heat objects that it strikes. For example, a dark dashboard, steering wheel, or seat temperature often are in the range of 180°F/82°C to over 200°F/93°C. These objects heat the adjacent air by conduction and convection and also give off longwave radiation (red) which is very efficient at warming the air trapped inside a vehicle. For examples of vehicle temperatures vs. ambient/outside the vehicle temperatures see: NoHeatStroke.org: animations of a 70°F/21°C -degree day or 90°F/32°C-degree day. MP4 Animation (Source: GM and Jan Null, San Jose State University)
McLaren Et al. published a study: Heat Stress from Enclosed Vehicles: Moderate Ambient Temperatures identifying vehicle temperatures at different ambient/outside temperatures. This study identified the following results:
- On sunny days, even when, the ambient temperature is mild or relatively cool, there is rapid and significant heating of the interior of vehicles.
- On days when the ambient temperature was 72°F/22°C, this study found that the internal vehicle temperature can reach 117°F/47°C within 60 minutes.
- 80 percent of the temperature rise occurs in the first 30 minutes.
- Generally, after 60 minutes, one can expect a 40°F/4.5°C increase in internal temperatures for ambient temperatures spanning 72°F/22°C to 40°F/35.5°C, putting children and pets at significant risk.
- Cracking open windows is not effective in decreasing either the rate of heat rise, or the maximum temperature attained.
Heatstroke and Pets
Over 75 percent of dog owners use their vehicle to transport or house their dog, but vehicles heat up quickly and are too hot causing heatstroke and death. Many people still believe that it’s ok to leave a dog in a vehicle on a warm day if the windows are left open or they’re parked in the shade, but the truth is, it’s still a very dangerous situation for the dog. Over 8,000 calls were made to the RSPCA in in the UK in 2018 over concerns for dogs left in hot vehicles.
Warning signs of heatstroke for dogs:
- Panting heavily
- Drooling excessively
- Lethargic, drowsy or uncoordinated behavior
- Collapsed
- Vomiting
How to help a dog in a hot vehicle
- Establish the animal’s health and condition. If they are displaying any signs of heatstroke dial 911 immediately.
- If the situation becomes critical for the dog and the police are too far away or unable to attend, many people’s instinct will be to break into the vehicle to free the dog.
- Can you legally break into a hot car to save a dog’s life? – Liverpool Echo
- Make sure you tell the police what you intend to do and why. Take pictures or videos of the dog and the names and numbers of witnesses to the incident.
- Once removed, if the dog is displaying signs of heatstroke, follow our emergency first aid advice. This could mean the difference between life and death for the dog.
- For the best chance of survival, dogs suffering from heatstroke urgently need to have their body temperature lowered gradually.
- Move him/her to a shaded/cool area.
- Immediately douse the dog with cool (not cold) water, to avoid shock. If possible, you can also use wet towels or place him/her in the breeze of a fan.
- Allow the dog to drink small amounts of cool water.
- Continue to douse the dog with cool water until his/her breathing starts to settle but never so much that he/she begins to shiver.
- Once the dog is cool, take him/her to the nearest vet as a matter of urgency.
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Get the Facts!
- Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths in children under 15. Heatstroke happens when the body is not able to cool itself quickly enough.
- In the U.S., on average, every 10 days a child dies from heatstroke in a vehicle.
- According to the National Safety Council, 38 children under the age of 15 die each year from heatstroke after being left in a vehicle.
- Almost every state has experienced at least one death since 1998.
- A record number of 53 children died after being left in a hot vehicle in 2018 It was the deadliest year on record in the past 20 years.
- Since 1998, more than 800 children have died from vehicular heatstroke.
- 24 percent of child vehicular heatstroke occurred while a parent or caregiver was at places of work.
- Often parents/caregivers do not realize a vehicle can heat up that fast and cause such serious injury so quickly. This often results in “intentionally/knowingly” leaving a child in a vehicle where heatstroke occurs.
- Children’s thermoregulatory systems are not as efficient as an adult’s.
- The body temperature of a child rises three to five times faster than the body temperature of an adult.
- When a child is left in a hot vehicle, their temperature can rise very quickly resulting in death.
- Heatstroke begins when the core body temperature reaches approximately 104 o F/40o C degrees.
- In 10 minutes, a vehicle’s temperature can rise over 20 degrees.
- Even at an outside temperature of
- A child dies when his/her body temperature reaches 107 o F/42o C degrees.
- On sunny days, even when, the ambient temperature is mild or relatively cool, there is rapid and significant heating of the interior of vehicles.
- Studies found on days when the ambient temperature was
- 80 percent of the temperature rise in a vehicle occurs in the first 30 minutes.
- Generally, after 60 minutes, one can expect a 40°F/ 4.5°C increase in internal temperatures for ambient temperatures spanning 72°F/ 22°C to 40°F/ 35.5°C, putting children and pets at significant risk.
- Cracking open windows is not effective in decreasing either the rate of heat rise, or the maximum temperature attained.
- Over 75 percent of dog owners use their vehicle to transport or house their dog, but vehicles get hot.
- Many people still believe that it’s ok to leave a dog in a vehicle on a warm day if the windows are left open or they’re parked in the shade, but the truth is, it’s still a very dangerous situation for the dog.