Can the body cope with 50C?

Australia is experiencing one of its strongest ever heatwaves. In fact, it is getting so hot that meteorologists have been forced to increase their temperature scale to 54C and add a new colour code. The unprecedented temperatures have caused outbreaks of bushfires putting lives at risk. But such high temperatures also pose another risk - to the body itself. Extreme temperatures result in stress to the body. The body works best within a narrow range of body temperature - 36C to 37.5C - and gets rid of heat mainly by sweating, although breathing and an increased heart rate can also expel heat. The hotter and more humid it gets the more the body has to sweat. This increases the risk of dehydration, which can lead to heat cramps, heat exhaustion or even heatstroke - also known as sunstroke. The latter is a medical emergency which can result in permanent damage to vital organs and even death if it is not treated. The World Health Organization says the optimum air temperature for the body is between 18C and 24C. Any hotter and the risks rise.