HOW TO PREVENT HEATSTROKE & OTHER HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES IN TENNESSEE
Tennessee summers are getting hotter, and high humidity can make extreme heat even harder on your body. One of the biggest risks of extreme heat exposure is heatstroke.
Heatstroke is severe overheating of the body—often to a temperature above 40°C, or 104°F—which can quickly become life-threatening. Knowing how to prevent heatstroke can help you act before overheating becomes a medical emergency.
In this Conway Services guide, you’ll learn practical steps for preventing heatstroke, which household members are most vulnerable to heat-related illnesses, and how to keep your home safer during Tennessee heat waves.
WHEN THE HOUSE BECOMES THE HEAT RISK
Heatstroke is not only an outdoor risk. During extreme heat, indoor temperatures can climb to dangerous levels if your AC is inefficient, broken, poorly maintained, too small for the home, or unavailable during a power outage.
The Tennessee Department of Health notes that heat-related illnesses and deaths are preventable. Part of being prepared for extreme summer weather and preventing heatstroke is making sure your home can stay safely cool when temperatures rise. Watch for conditions that can increase indoor heat risk:
Struggling AC: The system runs constantly but cannot keep up.
Uneven cooling: Some rooms stay much hotter than others.
High humidity: Your home feels hotter and more uncomfortable.
Complete loss of cooling: An AC breakdown or power outage leaves you without relief.
If your home becomes dangerously hot, move to an air-conditioned location and use quick cool-off methods like cold showers or ice baths. Wondering what you should drink to prevent heatstroke? Cold water or electrolyte drinks are the best way to stay hydrated, but they won’t prevent heatstroke on their own.
THE OVERNIGHT HEAT TRAP: WHY SOME HOMES NEVER REALLY COOL DOWN
A home can stay dangerously warm long after outdoor temperatures begin to fall. Heat absorbed by the roof, attic, walls, and sun-facing rooms during the day can linger overnight, while poor insulation or weak airflow makes it harder for that heat to escape.
Some areas are especially prone to becoming overnight hot spots:
Upper floors and finished attics
Bedrooms with strong afternoon sun exposure
Rooms above garages or other poorly insulated spaces
Areas with limited air circulation
Homes where the AC runs constantly but cannot keep up
Nighttime cooling matters because it gives your body a break from prolonged heat exposure and helps vulnerable household members recover before the next hot day.
THE PEOPLE MOST AT RISK MAY BE INSIDE YOUR HOME
Extreme heat does not affect everyone the same way. Knowing how to prevent heatstroke starts with recognizing who in your household may need extra attention during a Tennessee heat wave.
The CDC notes that older adults do not adjust as well to sudden temperature changes and are more likely to have health conditions or take medications that affect the body’s response to heat. Others at higher risk of heat-related illness include:
Young children
People with chronic health conditions
Anyone taking medications that interfere with sweating or temperature regulation
Outdoor workers who come home already overheated or dehydrated
Pregnant women
Check in often, keep cooler rooms available, and don’t wait for symptoms to become severe before taking action.
AC FAILURE DURING A HEAT WAVE: THE EMERGENCY PLAN MOST PEOPLE DON’T HAVE
Your emergency plan should start before the heat wave does. If your air conditioning fails when outdoor temperatures are already dangerous, you may have little time to decide how you’ll keep everyone safely cool.
Prepare your home by:
Scheduling AC maintenance before peak summer heat
Replacing dirty filters and checking for weak or uneven airflow
Identifying the coolest room in the house
Having a backup cooling option for that room
Knowing where you can relocate if indoor temperatures keep rising
Keeping water available and planning simple ways to cool your body
The DOE’s Building America Solution Center recommends setting up a “cool room”—a shaded or lower-level room that can be isolated from the rest of the house and cooled more easily. That can provide a safer place to gather when central cooling is not enough.
HEATSTROKE WARNING SIGNS EVERY TENNESSEE FAMILY SHOULD KNOW
Heat illness can worsen in stages, so don’t ignore early symptoms. The National Weather Service warns that heat cramps and heat exhaustion can progress if the body does not cool down, so part of preventing heatstroke is spotting heat-related illness early.
SIGNS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION | SIGNS OF HEAT STROKE |
|---|---|
Heavy sweating | Confusion or slurred speech |
Weakness or fatigue | Fainting or loss of consciousness |
Dizziness or headache | Hot skin |
Nausea | A rapid, strong pulse |
Muscle cramps | Body temperature above 103°F |
Cool, pale, or clammy skin |
If you notice signs of heat exhaustion, move to a cooler place, rest, cool down, and drink fluids if you can safely do so. If you suspect heatstroke, call 911 immediately and begin cooling while help is on the way.
A SIMPLE HEAT WAVE CHECK-IN PLAN FOR PEOPLE YOU CARE ABOUT
A heat wave check-in doesn’t have to be complicated. A quick call, text, or visit can help you catch small problems before they become serious, especially when someone’s home is not cooling well. During extreme heat, check on:
Older adults and people who live alone
Children and pets
People with chronic health conditions
Outdoor workers after long, hot shifts
Anyone with upstairs bedrooms, uneven cooling, or a struggling AC
Ask whether the home feels cool, whether they have water, and whether they have another place to go if the AC stops working.
LET CONWAY SERVICES HELP KEEP YOUR HOME COOL DURING HEAT WAVES
If cooling problems are putting you or a loved one at risk, Conway Services can help with AC repair, maintenance, and emergency services in the Memphis, TN, area.
Call 901-248-1961 or book online to schedule service before a home comfort problem becomes a heat safety concern.