The American Red Cross All Rights Reserved. On hot, humid days with no breeze, anyone may be affected by the heat. People who are especially susceptible to extreme heat are the very young and very old. Also, the chronically ill, overweight, those who work in hot places and athletes may suffer heat stroke, heat exhaustion or heat cramps.
Heat strokes are life threatening.
The victim's temperature control system stops producing sweat to cool the body. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly. Heat stroke requires medical attention. Heat Exhaustion is less dangerous than heat stroke. It typically occurs when people exercise or work in a warm humid place where body fluids are lost through heavy sweating.