Heat stroke vital signs: what to know

The body is failing to release heat effectively. Skin may feel hot and flushed; it can be dry, but sweating may still occur. A temperature reading can be misleading if the person has already been cooled, so mental changes matter greatly. Confusion, unusual behaviour, slurred speech or loss of coordination suggest that the brain is being affected. Heat Exhaustion can precede this emergency, but deterioration can be quick.

Call emergency services and move the person to shade or an air-conditioned place. Remove unnecessary outer clothing and cool the skin with wet cloths, fanning, or cool water. Place an unconscious person on their side and monitor breathing. Do not give drinks to anyone who is confused, drowsy, vomiting or unable to swallow safely. Do not leave them alone while waiting.

Treat suspected heat stroke as an emergency when overheating is accompanied by confusion, collapse, seizure, severe weakness, breathing difficulty or inability to drink. A fever-like reading after heat exposure does not explain away altered alertness. Emergency clinicians may check temperature, heart rhythm, blood pressure, breathing and blood tests while cooling and replacing fluids, sometimes with IV Fluid Therapy.

Ask which warning signs should prompt emergency care during outdoor work, exercise or travel. You can also ask how medicines, heart conditions or previous heat illness affect your personal risk and how to plan cooling and hydration.