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Warning signs: Heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke

Posted at 8:57 AM, Apr 29, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-29 11:57:46-04

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — An excessive heat warning for the Las Vegas valley started Tuesday.

This heat can definitely be dangerous -- from items in your home to your body temperature, there's several things to keep in mind during the excessive heat warning.

Not all heat illnesses are the same.

Heat exhaustion is less serious than heat stroke. You may feel faint or dizzy. And experience excessive sweating. Your skin may be pale and clammy and you may also experience muscle cramps.

If you're fully conscious, get to a cooler place and drink water and use cold compress to cure heat exhaustion

When it comes to heat stroke, the consequences can be deadly. Heat stroke happens when our core body temperature reaches 104-degrees or higher. You may experience a throbbing headache, a red, hot dry skin, nausea or vomiting and a rapid strong pulse.

If you're conscious, you need to call 911 immediately.

RELATED: Las Vegas sees dangerous sudden rise in temperature, Excessive Heat Warning issued by NWS

It's not just our bodies. Excessive heat also increases the chance of house fires.

We all know the AC is pumping hard to keep you cool. Your refrigerator is working harder now to keep your food cold too. Las Vegas Fire and Rescue PIO, Tim Szymanksi says, "It's working triple hard those things get overly red hot. The condensers do.If there is anything up against them papers oven mittens. Something falls behind the refrigerator those items can catch fire and spread to the rest of the house."

Extension cords can also cause fires. You should never use extension cords with refrigerators, freezers or AC units because they run constantly and at a high power, they cord could over heat and catch fire.

Remember if you plan to be outside today,Clark County has opened a limited number of cooling stations.