What should you know about sun stroke?

It can happen during intense heat or exertion, especially when dehydration, heavy clothing, or limited access to shade prevents normal cooling. A person may become confused, faint, unusually drowsy, unsteady, or have a seizure. Skin can feel very hot; sweating may be present or absent. Do not wait for every sign to appear.

Sun stroke is the severe form of heat illness, not simply mild sunburn or feeling tired after being outdoors. High body heat can disrupt the brain and other organs, so rapid cooling and medical assessment are needed. Heat exhaustion may cause heavy sweating, weakness, headache, nausea, or dizziness; it can progress to heatstroke, particularly if the person remains in the heat.

Older adults, babies, people with long-term conditions, and anyone taking medicines that affect fluid balance or sweating may be more vulnerable. A <a href="/conditions/type-2-diabetes/">Type 2 Diabetes</a> or <a href="/conditions/hypertension/">Hypertension</a> does not diagnose sun stroke, but it can affect how heat illness is managed.

Call emergency services if sun stroke is suspected. Move the person to shade or an air-conditioned place, remove excess clothing, and cool the skin with cool wet cloths, a fan, or cool water. Keep cooling while help is on the way.

If the person is awake and able to swallow, offer small sips of water; do not force fluids. Do not give drinks to someone who is confused, vomiting, having a seizure, or unconscious. Place an unconscious but breathing person on their side and monitor breathing. Do not leave them alone, and do not use alcohol-based rubbing products.

Treat confusion, collapse, seizure, loss of consciousness, severe weakness, or very hot skin after heat exposure as an emergency. Emergency assessment is also needed when symptoms do not improve promptly after moving to a cool place and starting cooling. A person who recovers still needs medical advice because organ problems can develop after overheating.

Sudden one-sided weakness, facial drooping, or speech difficulty may indicate <a href="/conditions/stroke/">Stroke</a> rather than heat illness, and requires emergency help. Numbness or tingling can have several causes; read about <a href="/symptoms/numbness-and-tingling/">Numbness and Tingling</a> while arranging appropriate assessment.

Ask which medicines or health conditions could increase your risk in hot weather, how to replace fluids safely, and when you can return to exercise or outdoor work. A <a href="/treatments/consultations-and-assessment/gp-consultation/">GP Consultation</a> can help review a milder episode or repeated heat symptoms. Do not stop prescribed treatment without medical guidance; ask specifically whether any <a href="/treatments/medical-management/blood-pressure-medication/">Blood Pressure Medication</a> needs special advice during heat.