Heat stroke & exhaustion

Heat illness responds well to cooling — and getting them cool right now is the single most important action.

For children:

Step 3 — Hydrate if conscious and not vomiting: Children overheat faster than adults. Never leave children in a parked car — temperatures reach fatal levels within minutes.

Steps

1
Move to a cool environment immediately
Out of the sun and heat right away. Into air conditioning or deep shade. Lie them down with legs slightly elevated.
Important: Heat stroke — hot dry skin, confusion, no sweating, very high temperature, unresponsiveness: Call 911 immediately and begin aggressive cooling NOW while waiting.
2
Cool rapidly
Remove excess clothing. Apply cool water to skin focusing on neck, armpits, and groin. Fan them actively.
Tip: Ice packs wrapped in thin cloth placed simultaneously on neck, armpits, and groin is the fastest field cooling method for heat stroke.
3
Hydrate if conscious and not vomiting
Small frequent sips of cool water or a sports drink with electrolytes. No gulping, no alcohol, no caffeine, no very cold drinks.
4
Monitor closely
Check consciousness, breathing, and skin temperature every few minutes. Confused, not sweating, or becoming unresponsive = heat stroke = call 911.
Important: Heat exhaustion: heavy sweating, pale cool clammy skin, weak pulse. Heat stroke: hot DRY skin, strong rapid pulse, confusion. Heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency.

Kit

Guidance only — in any emergency, call 911.