Heatstroke first aid

The signs of—and treatment for—heatstroke.

Heatstroke is the most serious and deadly form of heat-related illnesses. Your body temperature gauge basically breaks, and you keep getting hotter without the natural ability to cool down again.

This can happen quickly, and the best defense is to stay hydrated and not overwork yourself in the heat.

Heatstroke can come on suddenly by itself, or arise as a complication or worsening of heat exhaustion.

Heatstroke is very serious, and untreated can result in brain injury, organ injury, or death.

How to avoid heatstroke

  • Layer your clothing. This allows you to remove or add layers as needed to regulate your temperature. As you get warm, take off layers.
  • Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water, frequently sipping it throughout the day.
  • Do not overexert yourself in the heat. This may sound silly or impossible—we often go hiking on hot summer days. The key is to pace yourself and not over-exert. Keep that in mind and do not push too hard when it is really hot out.
  • Keep an eye on each other. Pay attention to the well-being of the person on either side of you, and everyone has at least three people watching out for them (themselves and two others). Since confusion and reduced cognitive abilities are symptoms of many outdoors-related ailments, you are never the best judge of how sick you might be.

Signs of heatstroke

  • Confusion
  • The Umbles: grumbling (irritation or agitation), mumbling (slurred talking), stumbling (loss of coordination)
  • Heavy sweating or hot, dry skin
  • Headache
  • Fainting
  • Flushed (reddish) skin
  • Rapid pulse
  • Rapid breathing (it may be uncontrollable panting or hyperventilating, or simply rapid shallow breaths)
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • A high fever (104°F or higher)

How to treat heatstroke

Call 911 immediately. You do not mess with heatstroke.

Move them out of the heat and try to cool them by any means possible:

  • Move them into a cool place
  • Put them in a pool, tub, lake, river, or creek
  • Pour water on their skin or sponge them with water
  • Fan them while watering them
  • Cover them with a cool, damp sheet or towel
  • Give them cool water or other (uncaffeinated, non-alcoholic) drinks
  • If you have access to ice packs (or frozen food), place them against their neck, armpits, and groin
  • If they lose consciousness and stop breathing, begin CPR.
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