Heat Related Illnesses

Recognizing and Treating Heat-Related Illnesses

Heat-related illnesses are preventable. Learn the symptoms and what to do if you or a loved one shows signs of having a heat-related illness. Follow these guidelines from the CDC:

Heat Stroke

  • What to look for?
    • High body temperature (103°F or higher)
    • Hot, red, dry, or damp skin
    • Fast, strong pulse
    • Headache
    • Dizziness
    • Nausea
    • Confusion
    • Losing consciousness (passing out)
  • What to do? 
      • Call 911 right away-heat stroke is a medical emergency
      • Move the person to a cooler place
      • Help lower the person’s temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath
      • Do not give the person anything to drink

Heat Exhaustion

  • What to look for? 
    • Heavy sweating
    • Cold, pale, and clammy skin
    • Fast, weak pulse
    • Nausea or vomiting
    • Muscle cramps
    • Tiredness or weakness
    • Dizziness
    • Headache
    • Fainting (passing out)
  • What to do?
    • Move to a cool place
    • Loosen your clothes
    • Put cool, wet clothes on your body or take a cool bath
    • Sip water
  • Get Medical help right away if:
    • You are throwing up
    • Your symptoms get worse
    • Your symptoms last longer than one hour

Heat Cramps

  • What to look for?
    • Heavy sweating during intense exercise
    • Muscle pain or spasms
  • What to do?
    • Stop physical activity and move to a cool place
    • Drink water or a sports drink
    • Wait for cramps to go away before you do any more physical activity
  • Get medical help right away if:
    • Cramps last longer than one hour
    • You’re on a low-sodium diet
    • You have heart problems

Sunburn

  • What to look for?
    • Painful, red, and warm skin
    • Blisters on the skin
  • What to do?
    • Stay out of the sun until your sunburn heals
    • Put cool cloths on sunburned areas or take a cool bath
    • Put moisturizing lotion on sunburned areas
    • Do not break blisters

Heat Rash

  • What to look for?
    • Red clusters of small blisters that look like pimples on the skin (usually on the neck, chest, groin, or in elbow creases)
  • What to do?
    • Stay in a cool, dry place
    • Keep the rash dry