Heat stroke is a medical emergency. You may have it if you have been exposed to heat or exercising and develop confusion, unusual behavior, fainting, or a seizure. Your skin may feel very hot, and your body temperature may be 104°F or higher, but you do not need a thermometer reading to act. Sweating can be present or absent.
If you suspect heat stroke, call 911 immediately. Do not wait to see whether the symptoms pass. If someone else is affected, stay with them and start cooling them while help is on the way.
Heat exhaustion can cause heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, thirst, and muscle cramps. Heat stroke is more likely when heat illness is accompanied by confusion, loss of consciousness, a seizure, or other changes in mental state. Heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke, so take symptoms seriously.
Move to a cool place, loosen clothing, and sip cool water if you are fully awake and able to swallow. Seek medical care if symptoms worsen, you vomit, or you do not improve within an hour. Call 911 right away for confusion, fainting, or a seizure.
Move the person out of the heat and remove unnecessary clothing. Cool them rapidly with cold water: immerse them in a cold-water bath if it is safe to do so, or wet their skin and use a fan. You can also apply cold, wet towels or ice packs to the neck, armpits, and groin.
Do not give a confused or unconscious person anything to drink. Follow the emergency dispatcher’s instructions and monitor their breathing until help arrives.
Yes. Our team wants you to know that dogs can develop heat stroke quickly, especially in hot weather, during strenuous activity, or in a parked car. Warning signs include excessive panting, drooling, weakness, vomiting, collapse, and confusion. Suspected heat stroke requires immediate veterinary care.
Move your dog to a cool area, wet their body with cool water, and use a fan while arranging transport to an emergency veterinarian. Do not force water into their mouth or delay the trip to the vet. For more dog-specific guidance, see our guide to spotting heat stroke in dogs.
Yes. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can cause heat stroke even when you are resting, particularly if you are older or have difficulty keeping cool.
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