By FireRescue1 Staff
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A firefighter has woken up from a coma after suffering a heat stroke, and doctors think energy drinks might have been a factor in the incident.
KCTV reported that the Kansas City Fire Department said the firefighter suffered a heat stroke while participating in a training exercise. He was taken to the hospital and was in a coma for a week.
“While we remain concerned, the family, KCFD, and Local 42 are pleased to report that he has made substantial progress and is communicating fully with family,” the fire department said. “We are all extremely relieved with his recovery.”
The fire department said the firefighter may have had some energy drinks.
“Despite monitoring heat conditions and taking regular breaks for hydration, the firefighter collapsed shortly after noon,” the department said.
Dr. Steven Owens, with the University of Kansas Health System, said a healthy person can usually recover from a heat stroke by cooling and hydrating.
“The caffeine in an energy drink is actually in a little bit of a diuretic. In other words, it actually causes you to lose fluid a little faster than you would otherwise so you are really working against yourself if you’re just trying to stay hydrated with an energy drink,” Dr. Owens said.