What should you know about mild heat stroke?

Heat stroke is a medical emergency in which the body cannot control overheating. A person may have a very hot body, headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, confusion, unusual behaviour, fainting or a seizure. Sweating may be present or absent, so damp skin does not rule it out. Heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke, but the two conditions require different levels of concern.

Call emergency services and move the person to shade or an air-conditioned place. Remove extra clothing and cool the skin with cool wet cloths, fanning, or a cool bath while help is coming. Stay with them and monitor breathing. Do not give drinks to someone who is confused, drowsy, vomiting or unable to swallow safely; never leave that person alone.

Seek emergency care immediately for confusion, collapse, seizure, severe weakness, repeated vomiting, difficulty breathing or a worsening headache after heat exposure. Fever-like symptoms after cooling also deserve assessment because infection and heat illness can overlap. Do not use a person’s temporary improvement as proof that the danger has passed.

Ask what caused the overheating, whether medicines or an illness increased the risk, how to recognise recurrence, and when normal activity and fluids are appropriate. Ask whether monitoring or blood tests are needed after the episode.