Heat Exhaustion

Prepare

• Keep electrolyte drinks or packets (e.g., Pedialyte, Liquid IV) at home and in your car.
• Know the location of the nearest cooling center in your city during summer months.
• Have a spray bottle filled with water for quick cooling.

Prevent

• Stay hydrated — drink water before you feel thirsty, especially during outdoor activity.
• Avoid outdoor exertion between 11am–4pm on days above 90°F.
• Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing and a hat in direct sun.
• Never leave people or pets in a parked car — temperatures can exceed 130°F in minutes.
• Acclimatize gradually — give your body 1–2 weeks to adjust to hot weather.

Respond

Signs of heat exhaustion: Heavy sweating, cool/pale/clammy skin, fast/weak pulse, nausea, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headache, fainting.

1. Move to a cool place immediately — air-conditioned building or shade.
2. Loosen or remove excess clothing.
3. Apply cool, wet cloths to the skin — focus on neck, armpits, and groin.
4. Sip cool water or electrolyte drink if conscious and able to swallow.
5. Do not give fluids to an unconscious person.
6. Rest and monitor — most people recover in 15–30 minutes with treatment.

Call 911 if:

• Symptoms worsen or do not improve within 1 hour
• The person becomes confused, loses consciousness, or stops sweating (signs of heatstroke — a medical emergency)

Resources

• Emergency: 911
• CDC Heat-Related Illness: cdc.gov/niosh/topics/emres/heat
• Search "[your city] cooling center" for local options during heat emergencies