Book 10, Question 148
Why Does Your Body Send Warning Signs, Like Dizziness, When It Gets Too Hot?
Your body sends warning signs like dizziness when it gets too hot because it is asking for help! If it cannot cool down enough, it sends signals so you will take a break. Move to shade, sip water, and tell a grown-up right away.
More fun facts
- Heat exhaustion happens when your body gets too hot and struggles to control its temperature.
- Heavy sweating and feeling very hot and unwell are your body's warning to cool down fast.
- Other signs include weakness and cool, pale, clammy skin.
- Heat can cause painful muscle cramps, usually in the legs and belly.
- If sweating shuts down, the body can become dangerously hot.
- People who spend weeks in hot conditions get better at sweating and cooling down.
Sources: BBC, NOAA, Scientific American, Scientific American
Questions kids ask
How can I cool down on a hot day?
Find a cool indoor place, take a cool bath or shower, or use a cold compress.