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Verify: Can a frozen treat cure you from heat stroke?

Legend has it, a fairgoer at the California State Fair was suffering from heat stroke and had a Merlino's freeze. That man apparently recovered before medics arrived.

Sacramento, Calif. — Temperatures in Sacramento are rising this week, bringing the possibility of a consistent amount of days with triple-digit temperatures.

Every year, people suffer from heat stroke and end up at the hospital. We don't have to remind you heat stroke is a serious medical condition, but there is a rumor floating around we thought we would look into for you.

Legend has it, a fairgoer at the California State Fair was suffering from heat stroke and had a Merlino’s freeze. That man apparently recovered before medics arrived. So we wanted to know: Can a frozen treat stop someone from having heat stroke?

To verify this, ABC10 spoke with Merlino’s manager Corey Brannon and Dr. Brandee Waite with UC Davis. The claim was made in the Mercury News, the Reporter.com and in the Sacramento Bee.

The rumor says, “When the temperature starts rising, make a beeline for Sacramento’s iconic maker of fruit freezes, Merlino’s, a tradition since 1946. Cal Expo legend has it that a fairgoer suffering from heat stroke was handed a freeze — and recovered before medics arrived.”

What is heat stroke?

"Heat stroke is the real significant medical problem. It’s truly a medical emergency," Waite said.

She emphasized it's a medical emergency because a person’s internal temperature is incredibly high during heat stroke.

"It can get up to 104, 105, 106 internally which is basically cooking your internal organs and that is a true medical emergency. Someone needs to call 911," Waite said.

Heat stroke is the most serious form of a heat-related illness.

"Heat related illness is a spectrum of problems that can happen. Mildest form is heat cramps," Waite explained.

She also said there's heat exhaustion, which leads to heat stroke. Heat exhaustion is often classified when the "person feels excessively tired, weak, and nauseous, and may feel dizzy and even pass out briefly," according to UC Davis Medical Center.

According to Merlino’s manager Corey Brannon, the story is not made up.

"I guess he was having a heat episode and they called first responders, but before they got there he was given a freeze and by the time they got there he was feeling a lot better," Brannon said.

But according to Waite, that man was not suffering from heat stroke. He was most likely experiencing a different, less-severe, form of heat-related illness.

“If someone is having heat stroke, then a frozen drink is not going to treat someone with heat stroke. If someone was having heat exhaustion, if they got out of the sun, someone was fanning them, then drank something like a frozen, cold beverage, that could help them cool down and stop the progression of heat stroke," Waite said.

ABC10 can verify, the story is half-true. According to Merlino's, the man was given a freeze and felt better immediately, but he was not suffering from heat stroke.

If you or someone you are with is suffering from heat stroke, remember, it is a serious medical condition and you should call 911.

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