Your Core Body Temperature
Your body’s heat combined with environmental heat results in what’s called your core temperature – your body’s internal temperature. Your body needs to regulate the heat gain from the environment to maintain a normal core temperature of approximately 37 °C (98.6 F).
How your body naturally cools itself
In hot weather, the body cools itself mainly by sweating. However, when you exercise or work in hot, humid weather, your body is less able to cool itself efficiently. The harder it is to cool off, the easier it is to suffer from heat related syndromes. Your body may develop heat cramps. Untreated, heat cramps lead to heat exhaustion and eventually heatstroke.
What is Heat Stroke?
Heatstroke occurs when your core body temperature reaches 40 °C (104 F) or higher. Heatstroke requires immediate medical attention to prevent permanent damage to the brain and other vital organs, which eventually can result in death.
How to stay cool
- Stay hydrated (Drink enough fluids)
- Wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing
- Wear a hat for sun protection
- Take it easy during the hottest parts of the day
- Limit time spent working or exercising in heat
- Wear cooling products

Heat related syndromes
What they are and how to recognise them
Heat Cramps
Painful, brief muscle cramps. The muscles may spasm or jerk involuntarily.
Usually involves muscles that are fatigued by heavy work, such as calves, thighs and shoulders.
Signs & symptoms
- Painful muscle spasms
- Involuntary muscle spasms
Heat Exhaustion
Illness that can occur after you have been exposed to high temperatures, often accompanied by dehydration.
Two types: Water depletion or salt depletion.
Signs & symptoms
- Cool, moist skin with goose bumps, when in the heat
- Heavy sweating
- Faintness & Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Weak, rapid pulse
- Low blood pressure upon standing
- Muscle cramps
- Nausea & Headache
Heat Stroke
Most serious form of heat injury and is considered a medical emergency.
Heat stroke can kill or can cause damage to the brain and other internal organs.
Signs & symptoms
- Throbbing headache
- Dizziness and light-headedness
- Lack of sweating despite the heat
- Red, hot and dry skin
- Muscle weakness or cramps
- Nausea and vomiting
- Rapid heartbeat
- Rapid, shallow breathing
- Behavioral changes such as: confusion, disorientation or staggering
- Seizures
- Unconsciousness
The risks of heat
Key statistics
Source: World Health Organization
Despite being preventable, many people still die by heatwaves every year world-wide. With global temperatures rising we are facing a lot of challenges. Death by heat being one of them. The mortality risk increases between 0.2 – 5.5% for every 1 °C increase in temperature.
166,000 deaths
Between 1989 – 2017, 166.000 people died because of heatwaves
70,000 deaths
During the summer of 2003 alone, 70.000 heat-related deaths were recorded in Europe
100 years
Romania is experiencing the highest level of temperatures in 100 years
400 deaths
Expected heat-related deaths per year in cities like Budapest, Rome, Athens, Bucharest and other cities from 2030 onwards
Heat & Productivity
Employees who work in hot conditions are not as productive and can suffer from kidney injury, dehydration and other health problems, according to a new review of 111 studies published in the Lancet Planetary Health. The included studies involved 447 million workers in over 40 different occupations, including outdoor and indoor jobs.
The work area temperature can have a huge impact on how productive you are. The study shows that productivity drops by as much as 4% per degrees °C (!) when temperatures rise above 27 degrees °C in workplaces requiring manual labour.
Less productive workers means a less productive business – So keep your workers cool to stay comfortable, healthy and productive!