Heat becomes dangerous quietly. By the time somebody says they feel unwell in the heat, the body has usually been losing more than it takes in for hours. It is easiest to fix early and hardest to fix once the person has stopped sweating.
Early signs, fix them now
- Thirst, dry mouth, dark yellow urine or passing little.
- Headache, tiredness, dizziness on standing.
- Muscle cramps, especially in the legs.
- A baby with fewer wet nappies than usual.
What to do
- Move into shade or a cooler room. Loosen clothing.
- Drink water steadily. ORS is better than water alone if there has been sweating, vomiting or diarrhoea.
- Cool with a damp cloth, a fan, or water on the skin.
- Rest. Do not go back to work in the sun to finish the job.
Go to a facility now if
- Confusion, strange behaviour, or fainting.
- Hot skin that has stopped sweating. This is heat stroke and it is an emergency.
- A fit.
- Vomiting so the fluid cannot go in.
- No urine for many hours.
- Sunken eyes or skin that stays pinched, in a child.
Who gets into trouble fastest
Babies and small children, older people, pregnant women, anyone working outdoors in the middle of the day, and anyone already ill with fever or diarrhoea. In the far north during the hot months, the middle of the day is worth reorganising the day around, not pushing through.
What not to do
- Do not drink alcohol or a lot of sweet soft drinks to rehydrate.
- Do not leave anyone, especially a child, in a parked vehicle, even briefly.
- Do not use salt tablets.
