What should you know about heat stroke stages?

Early heat illness may cause thirst, sweating, tiredness, cramps, dizziness, or headache. Heat exhaustion can bring marked weakness, nausea, vomiting, and difficulty continuing activity. Heat stroke begins when overheating affects brain function or other organs; confusion, fainting, seizure, unusual behaviour, or loss of coordination are especially concerning. These phases do not occur in a fixed order, and a person can deteriorate rapidly. Fever-like warmth can occur, but a thermometer reading is not needed before acting.

At early symptoms, stop exertion, move to a cool place, loosen clothing, and take safe sips of fluid. If symptoms are severe, persist, or include vomiting, arrange urgent medical care. At any sign of confusion, collapse, seizure, or inability to drink, call emergency services immediately. Start active cooling with water, wet cloths, and airflow; do not leave the person alone or make them walk for help.

Emergency help is needed as soon as awareness, balance, breathing, or responsiveness changes. Seek assessment after a severe episode even when cooling appears to help, because internal injury may not be obvious at first. Heat Exhaustion symptoms that are worsening rather than settling should not be managed by returning to activity.

Ask how your symptoms fit the heat-illness spectrum, when you can safely resume exercise, whether a medicine or health condition raises your risk, and how to build rest and cooling breaks into work outdoors. Ask what to do if Vomiting prevents drinking.