Avoiding Heat Stroke

Brought to you by Steffie Stickhead 

Hi! I’m Steffie Stickhead and I’m your local Safety Stick. Sometimes you learn Safety from your mistakes and that’s just what happened to me when I first came here. I went to Manuel Antonio National Park and it was awesome but WOW. The sun was so intense and I didn’t bring enough water for the hike. Next thing I knew I was dizzy, had cramps and a headache. My friend had to put me in her backpack and carry me out of the park to the Doctor’s office. You can see in the photo, this stick had to be carried! Thank goodness for my friend because some of the symptoms can be lethal!!!

I sure learned a lot from my mistake in the sun. I’m not going to do THAT again for sure. I was sick for 2 days and couldn’t do anything. No High Five for me! The worst part was the high fever and vomiting. Ewww, never again!

Here are your Prevention Tips for Avoiding Heat Stroke!!!

• Don’t wear tight or dark clothing. Leaving space for air and wearing lighter colors helps keep you cooler.
• Drink PLENTY of water. You sweat when you are hot. This is how your body regulates temperature. DRINK MORE WATER!
• Taking medication? Double check for contra-indications for sun exposure!
• Take it easier in the hottest parts of the day, find a breeze and some shade (A.K.A. – Pura Vida).
• DON’T do anything too physical your first day here, get used to the climate first – let your body adapt instead of being shocked.

And, just in case you decide to be a stupid stick and not listen, here are the Symptoms of Heat Stroke!

• Throbbing Headache
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Lack of sweating despite the heat
• Red, hot and dry skin
• Muscle cramps or weakness
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Rapid heartbeat; either strong or weak
• Rapid, shallow breathing
• Behavioral Changes: Confusion, Disorientation
• Seizures (be especially careful with Diabetics and Epileptics)
• Unconsciousness

So there you have it! Get out there and have some fun, but always take care – this way you can have FUN ALL THE TIME! That’s right, now you get it! High Five for Safety!!!

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