Signs of heat illness
What heat exhaustion and heat stroke look like, and what to do.
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Heat illness arrives in stages, and the early ones are easy to brush off. Two stages matter most, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. One asks you to stop. The other is an emergency.
The warning stage
Heat exhaustion
What to look for
- Heavy sweating
- Cool, pale, or clammy skin
- Dizziness, headache, or nausea
- Muscle cramps
- Unusual tiredness or weakness
What to do
- Stop. Move to shade or a cool room.
- Sip water steadily.
- Loosen clothing and cool the skin with wet cloths.
- If it does not ease within an hour, or gets worse, seek medical help.
An emergency
Heat stroke
What to look for
- Confusion, slurred speech, or strange behavior
- Hot skin that can be dry or damp
- A fast, pounding pulse
- Fainting or passing out
- No sweating despite the heat
What to do
- Call emergency services first.
- Move the person to shade or a cool room.
- Cool them fast with water on the skin and moving air.
- If they are confused or drowsy, do not give them anything to drink.
When to seek help
Trust the trend, not toughness. Anyone who is confused, faints, or keeps getting worse after cooling down needs emergency care. With heat stroke, minutes matter.
HeatCue shows conditions and general guidance. It is an awareness tool, not medical advice.