Heat-related illness
Everybody is at risk of heat-related illness, and it’s important to know what to do if you see or experience symptoms.
Heat-related illnesses include dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke and symptoms can vary between people.
On this page:
Dehydration
Symptoms:
- dizziness
- tiredness
- irritability
- thirst
- bright or dark urine
- loss of appetite
- fainting.
What to do if you are dehydrated:
- Drink plenty of water or alternate with diluted fruit juice (1 part juice in 4-part water).
- Avoid alcohol and drinks high in caffeine and sugar.
- Move to a cool place, lie down, and remove excess clothing.
- Seek medical help if you start to feel unwell.
Heat cramps
Symptoms:
- profuse sweating
- painful muscle cramps usually in the legs and abdominal muscles.
What to do if you have heat cramps:
- Stop activity and sit quietly in a cool place.
- Increase fluid intake.
- Rest a few hours before returning to activity.
- Stretch and gently massage affected muscles.
- Seek medical help if cramps persist.
Heat exhaustion
Symptoms:
- pale complexion and profuse sweating
- fatigue, weakness and restlessness
- headache
- dizziness
- nausea
- vomiting
- weak rapid heart rate
- breathing fast and shallow
- muscle cramps
- weakness
- fainting.
What to do for heat exhaustion:
- Move to a cool place, lie down, and remove excess clothing.
- To cool down the body try a cool shower, bath or sponge bath, place moist, cool cloths on forehead, wrists, sides of neck, underarms and groin area, fan continuously.
- Give small sips of cool water or diluted fruit juice or cordial (1 part juice in 4 parts water).
- If recovery isn’t quick or vomiting occurs, seek emergency medical assistance.
Heatstroke
This is a more severe and dangerous form of heat-related illness.
Symptoms:
- confusion
- poor coordination or slurred speech
- hot, dry skin, possibly not sweating
- fast and shallow breaths
- rapid pulse
- extreme fatigue
- headache
- fainting
- vomiting and diarrhoea and loss of consciousness.
What to do for heatstroke:
This is a medical emergency.
Call triple zero (000), then:
- check person’s airway, breathing and pulse—if unconscious position on their side and commence CPR if required.
- if possible, move person to a cool place, lie them down and remove excess clothing.
- to cool the body place moist, cool cloths on forehead, wrists, sides of neck, underarms and groin area, fan continuously.
- give small sips of fluids if conscious and able to swallow.
Do not give any medications unless they are prescribed by the doctor.