What should you know about loo heat stroke?

Heat stroke develops when the body can no longer control its temperature. The person may be confused, unusually drowsy, faint, unsteady, or have a seizure. Skin may feel very hot; sweating can be present or absent. It can follow intense activity, prolonged heat exposure, or severe dehydration.

Heat exhaustion can worsen into heat stroke. A headache, dizziness, weakness, thirst, muscle cramps, nausea, or vomiting should be treated as a warning that the body is struggling with heat.

Call emergency services and stay with the person. Move them into shade or an air-conditioned area, remove unnecessary clothing, and cool the skin with cool wet cloths, a fan, or cool water. Do not delay emergency help while trying to cool them.

If the person is fully awake and able to swallow, offer small sips of water. Do not give drinks to someone who is confused, vomiting repeatedly, having a seizure, or unconscious. Place an unconscious but breathing person on their side and follow the emergency operator's instructions.

Any change in alertness, collapse, seizure, very hot skin, severe weakness, breathing difficulty, or persistent vomiting after heat exposure needs emergency assessment. Do not assume the person is recovering because sweating starts or the temperature seems lower.

After recovery, ask what caused the overheating, how to plan fluids and breaks in hot weather, and whether medicines or health conditions increase heat risk. Ask when symptoms such as fever or vomiting require reassessment.