Tips to prevent heat related illnesses Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are serious - learn the symptoms and how to prevent them11 July 2024 11 July 2024 3 minute read 3 minute read By: By: New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and HealthNow that we are in the mid-point of summer, it is important to review the causes of heat illness and what steps can be taken to prevent heat illnesses. The most serious forms of heat illness are heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Heat illnesses are brought on when our bodies build up more heat than we can handle and our bodies cooling mechanisms become overwhelmed. With heat exhaustion, the surface blood vessels and capillaries that enlarge to cool the body become collapsed due to lack of body fluids. It is important to note that the symptoms of heat stroke are very similar to those of pesticide poisoning.