KUALA LUMPUR: Members of the public are advised to be aware of the early signs of a heat stroke following the unpredictable hot and dry weather in Malaysia presently.
Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said early symptoms include body temperature exceeding 40.5 degrees Celsius. Normal human temperature is about 37 degrees Celsius.
He said a high temperature may lead to other complications to the nervous system that may result in coma and in some cases, death.
"Other symptoms pertaining to such an attack (heat stroke) include throbbing headache, nausea, minimal sweating despite being in hot weather and accelerated pulse rate," he said in a statement.
A person suffering from heat stroke will also experience these other symptoms such as muscle cramps, vomiting, dry and red skin, seizure and fainting.
Yesterday, 61 trainees at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in Bukit Sentosa, Kuala Kubu Bharu were rushed to the hospital after suffering heat stroke while on training.
Of the total, 16 victims are reportedly critical.