Heat Illness and Heat Stroke

High temperatures can cause many health problems, including heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat fainting, heat edema (swelling of hands, feet and ankles), heat rash and heat cramps (muscle cramps). During very hot weather, everyone is at risk, but some groups are more vulnerable than others.

They include:

Older adults
Infants and young children
People with chronic illnesses, such as breathing difficulties, heart conditions or psychiatric illnesses
People on certain medications
People who play sports or exercise outdoors
People who work in the heat
People who are homeless or who live in sub-standard housing

During very hot weather, pay close attention to how you – and those around you – feel. Watch for symptoms of heat illness, which include:

Dizziness or fainting
Nausea or vomiting
Headache
Rapid breathing and heartbeat
Extreme thirst (dry mouth or sticky saliva)
Decreased urination with unusually dark yellow urine

If you experience any of these symptoms during hot weather, immediately move to a cool place and drink liquids. Water is best.

Heat stroke is a medical emergency!

Call 911 immediately if you notice that someone has a high body temperature and is either unconscious, confused or has stopped sweating.

While waiting for help:

Move the person to a cool, shaded area.
Loosen excess clothing.
Apply cold water to large areas of the skin or clothing, letting the water evaporate to reduce body temperature.
Fan the person as much as possible.
Give the person sips of cool water.

HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES
What to look for	What to do
HEAT STROKE
High body temperature (103°F or higher) Hot, red, dry, or damp skin Fast, strong pulse Headache Dizziness Nausea Confusion Losing consciousness (passing out)	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
Heavy sweating Cold, pale, and creamy skin Fast, weak pulse Nausea or vomiting Muscle cramps Tiredness or weakness Dizziness Headache Fainting (passing out)	Move to a cool place Loosen your clothes Put cool, wet cloths 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 1 hour
HEAT CRAMPS
Heavy sweating during intense exercise Muscle pain or spasms	Stop physical activity and move to a cool place Drink water or a sports drink Wait for cramps to go away bafore you do any more physical activity Get medical help right away if: Cramps last longer than 1 hour You're on a low-sodium diet You have heart problems
SUNBURN
Painful, red, and warm skin Blisters on the skin	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
Red clusters of small blisters that look like pimples on the skin (usually on the neck, chest, groin, or in elbow creases)	Stay in a cool dry place Keep the rash dry Use powder (like baby powder) to soothe the rash