Mild heat stroke symptoms: what to recognise

Heat-related illness may begin with thirst, headache, dizziness, nausea, muscle cramps, tiredness, and heavy sweating. Heat stroke is more serious: the person may become confused, unusually sleepy, unsteady, faint, or unable to respond normally. Skin can feel very hot, and sweating may be present or absent. These symptoms follow heat exposure, strenuous activity, or time in a hot environment, but the absence of a measured temperature does not safely rule it out.

Take the person out of the heat and begin cooling with wet cloths, airflow, or a cool shower. If alert, let them sip water or an oral rehydration drink. Keep watching their breathing and alertness. Someone who is confused, faint, seizing, repeatedly vomiting, or unable to swallow needs emergency help while cooling is continued. Never give food or drink to an unconscious or poorly responsive person.

Call emergency services for confusion, collapse, seizure, severe breathing trouble, persistent vomiting, or deterioration during cooling. Arrange medical assessment when symptoms remain after moving to a cool place, because heat injury can affect the brain, kidneys, and other organs. A clinician can also distinguish heat illness from Fever or another cause of altered behaviour.

Ask which symptoms should prompt immediate action, when normal activity can resume, how to prevent another episode, and whether any current medicine affects heat tolerance.