What should you know about sunstroke treatment?

Heat stroke can develop after intense heat exposure, exertion, or a hot enclosed environment. Confusion, unusual behaviour, fainting, seizures, hot skin, severe weakness, and vomiting are warning signs. Sweating may be present or absent, so dry skin is not required. Heat exhaustion can worsen into heat stroke, but a person with confusion or reduced consciousness should be treated as having a medical emergency.

Call emergency services and move the person to shade or a cool indoor space. Remove excess clothing and cool the skin with cool wet cloths, spraying water with airflow, or a cool bath if this can be done safely. Stay with them and keep checking their breathing. Do not give drinks to someone who is confused, drowsy, vomiting repeatedly, or unable to swallow normally. Do not use alcohol rubs or delay help while trying home remedies.

Seek emergency care immediately for confusion, collapse, seizure, severe headache, trouble breathing, repeated vomiting, or inability to drink. Even if cooling improves the person, medical assessment is needed because internal overheating can affect the brain, kidneys, muscles, and circulation. Treatment may include monitored cooling, blood tests, observation, and IV Fluid Therapy when fluids cannot be replaced safely by mouth.

Ask what likely triggered the overheating, whether medicines or health conditions increase heat risk, how to return safely to activity, and which warning signs should prompt another urgent visit.