Searches for “Air Conditioning” and “Heat Stroke” Hit an All-Time High

The historic heat wave we’ve been in is also causing a historic amount of googling.  Searches for “heat wave,” “air conditioning,” and “fans” hit an all-time high this month, according to Google Trends.

We’re also searching for “heat stroke” more than ever.  So what exactly is heat stroke?  That’s the #1 question we’re asking about it.  Here are the top five . . .

1.  “What is heat stroke?”  It’s when your core body temp is 104 or higher.  It’s not really a “stroke,” but it can cause headaches, confusion, slurred speech, seizures, and even KILL you.  When it’s less severe, it’s called “heat exhaustion.”

2.  “How long does heat exhaustion last?”  It can take a few days until you feel back to normal.  But you can still be sensitive to hot weather for a week or more.   Heat STROKE usually requires a hospital stay, and up to a YEAR to fully recover.

3.  “What are the first signs of heat exhaustion?”  Heavy sweating . . . a racing heart . . . cramps . . . headache . . . dizziness . . . feeling faint . . . and being tired or weak in general.

4.  “What to do for heat exhaustion?”  Get out of the heat and find some A/C.  Also, drink fluids . . . take a cool bath . . . loosen your clothes . . . or drench them in water.  Call 911 if your symptoms get worse or last more than an hour.

5.  “What does heat stroke feel like?”  Not good.  People tend to feel confused, and might even become aggressive or combative.

When it’s bad enough to be heat stroke, you’re NOT supposed to give them water.  It won’t do much at that point, and they could inhale it into their lungs by mistake.  If they’re low on electrolytes, water could actually make things worse.

Instead, call 911 right away.  And do other things to cool them down, like putting cold towels all over them.

(Google Trends / Google Trends / CDC)