Community Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

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HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES

HEAT STROKE

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

• High body temperature (103°F or higher)
• Hot, red, dry, or damp skin
• Fast, strong pulse
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Losing consciousness (passing out)

WHAT TO DO:

• Call 911 right away-heat stroke is a medical emergency
• Move the person to a cooler place
• Help lower the person’s temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath
• Do not give the person anything to drink

HEAT EXHAUSTION

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

• Heavy sweating
• Cold, pale, and clammy skin
• Fast, weak pulse
• Nausea or vomiting
• Muscle cramps
• Tiredness or weakness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Fainting (passing out)

WHAT TO DO

• Move to a cool place
• Loosen your clothes
• Put cool, wet cloths on your body or take a cool bath
• Sip water
Get medical help right away if:
• You are throwing up
• Your symptoms get worse
• Your symptoms last longer than 1 hour

HEAT CRAMPS

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

• Heavy sweating during intense exercise
• Muscle pain or spasms

WHAT TO DO

• Stop physical activity and move to a cool place
• Drink water or a sports drink
• Wait for cramps to go away before you do any more physical activity
Get medical help right away if:
• Cramps last longer than 1 hour
• You’re on a low-sodium diet
• You have heart problems

SUNBURN

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

• Painful, red, and warm skin
• Blisters on the skin

WHAT TO DO

• Stay out of the sun until your sunburn heals
• Put cool cloths on sunburned areas or take a cool bath
• Put moisturizing lotion on sunburned areas
• Do not break blisters
 

HEAT RASH

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

• Red clusters of small blisters that look like pimples on the skin (usually on the neck, chest, groin, or in elbow creases)

WHAT TO DO

• Stay in a cool, dry place
• Keep the rash dry
• Use powder (like baby powder) to soothe the rash



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