See the Heat Exhaustion or Heatstroke topics via the Disease List if later stages of heat illness are suspected.
First Aid Guide
Use a combination of the following measures, depending on the circumstances and means available:
- Have the person rest in a shaded area or cool or air-conditioned building, room, or car.
- Give the person an electrolyte beverage, such as Gatorade® or Pedialyte®, or water if not available. Note: You can make a salted drink by adding 1 teaspoon of salt to one quart of water.
- Pour water over the person or spray with a hose. Note: Do not do this if the person is disoriented.
- Wrap the person in wet cloth, and position a fan toward him/her. Evaporation of water on the skin aids in cooling.
- Apply cold compresses (eg, to neck, armpits, groin).
- Attempt to relax the cramped muscles by massaging them gently but firmly.
Those on certain medications can suffer from heat illness, as well, as medications can alter the way the body handles heat and sun. Those who drink alcohol before, during, or after vigorous activity are more susceptible to heat illness, as are people who do heavy work with inadequate fluid intake.
You can differentiate the least-severe form of heat illness, heat cramps, from more-severe forms by comparing the person's symptoms described above to the following:
- Heat exhaustion – Feelings of nausea, light-headedness, or thirst, and the person may act irrationally, have dilated pupils (pupils are larger than normal), be very sweaty, or have cool and moist skin that is either reddened or pale.
- Heatstroke includes some or all of the following symptoms:
- A high body temperature (above 102° F)
- Skin that is red and hot with lack of sweating (sweating that has stopped)
- Small pupils
- A rapid, weak pulse
- Rapid, shallow breathing
- Extreme confusion or irritability