A healthy body temperature is maintained by the nervous system.
As the body temperature increases, the body tries to maintain
its normal temperature by transferring heat. Sweating and blood
flow to the skin (thermoregulation) help us keep our bodies
cool. A heat-related illness occurs when our bodies can no
longer transfer enough heat to keep us cool. A high body
temperature (hyperthermia) can develop rapidly in extremely hot
environments, such as when a child is left in a car in the
summer heat. Hot temperatures can also build up in small spaces
where the ventilation is poor, such as attics or boiler rooms.
People working in these environments may quickly develop
hyperthermia. High temperature caused by a fever is different
from a high body temperature caused by a heat-related illness. A
fever is the body's normal reaction to infection and other
conditions, both minor and serious. Heat-related illnesses
produce a high body temperature because the body cannot transfer
heat effectively or because external heat