Heatstroke and overheating: how to recognise it and give first aid

A hot, cloudless afternoon. Your friend is running around the park at high noon, just like every day. After half an hour they sit down on a bench - pale, drenched in sweat, complaining of dizziness and nausea. Or another scene: an elderly neighbour who has been tidying up a sun-baked balcony since morning suddenly becomes disoriented, talks nonsense, and her skin is hot and dry.

These are two different situations - and that is the crux of this article. The first is most likely heat exhaustion. The second may be heatstroke, that is, a state of immediate danger to life. They look similar, both come from overheating, but they call for a completely different response.

Heatwaves are happening more and more often and can be truly dangerous. The ability to recognise what you are dealing with, as well as knowing the rules of first aid, can literally save someone's life. In this article we explain it step by step - simply and without needless scare-mongering.

What happens when the body overheats?

The human body constantly maintains a temperature of around 36-37 degrees. In the heat, the main cooling mechanism is sweating - sweat evaporating from the skin draws away heat. The widening of blood vessels close to the skin also helps, as they release heat to the outside.

The trouble begins when these mechanisms can no longer keep up. This happens with a long stay in high temperatures, heavy physical exertion, high air humidity (sweat evaporates more poorly) or dehydration (there is not enough fluid for sweat). Heat starts to build up, and the body temperature rises.

Overheating is not a single condition but a spectrum - from mild complaints to life-threatening heatstroke. Two key points on this scale are heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Heat exhaustion - a serious warning signal

Heat exhaustion is the body's reaction to overheating and the loss of water and mineral salts along with sweat. It is a serious condition, but usually not an immediate danger to life - if you react early enough. Treat it as a clear alarm: the body is saying "I have to cool down, and right now".

Typical symptoms of heat exhaustion

• Heavy sweating - the skin is damp.
• Skin pale, cool and clammy.
• Weakness, a feeling of tiredness, "wobbly legs".
• Dizziness and headache.
• Nausea, sometimes vomiting.
• Muscle cramps - in the legs, the abdomen.
• A fast but usually rather faintly palpable pulse.
• Preserved consciousness - the person is conscious and can be communicated with logically, even though they may feel terrible.
• Body temperature normal or moderately raised.

A key observation: with heat exhaustion the person is still sweating, their skin is rather cool and damp, and contact with them is maintained. This is important, because it is precisely these features that set it apart from heatstroke.

Heatstroke - a life-threatening condition

Heatstroke is the most severe form of overheating and an immediate danger to life. It occurs when the cooling mechanisms fail completely and the body temperature rises rapidly and dangerously - it may exceed 40 degrees. Such a high temperature begins to damage organs, including the brain. It is a condition that requires immediate help.

Typical symptoms of heatstroke

• A very high body temperature.
• Disturbances of consciousness - confusion, disorientation, talking nonsense, strange behaviour, agitation, and in more severe cases loss of consciousness or seizures.
• Skin hot to the touch, often red and dry - because sweating may stop (though with exertional heatstroke the skin can still be sweaty).
• A strong, throbbing headache.
• A fast, strong pulse.
• Rapid breathing.
• Nausea and vomiting.

Heat exhaustion or heatstroke - how to tell them apart

This is the most important skill. Two features are of decisive importance:

• State of consciousness. A conscious person with whom there is logical contact - that is rather heat exhaustion. Confusion, disorientation, talking nonsense, loss of consciousness - that is a sign of heatstroke.
• The skin. Cool, pale skin damp with sweat points rather to heat exhaustion. Hot, often dry and reddened skin - to heatstroke.

A shortcut worth remembering: treat any disturbance of consciousness in the heat with hot skin as heatstroke and call 112 immediately. In such a situation do not hesitate and do not wait for it to "pass on its own".

First aid step by step

The response depends on what you are dealing with. Always start, however, by assessing the state of consciousness and the skin of the affected person.

With heat exhaustion

The person is conscious, sweating, the skin is cool and damp:

1. Move them into the shade or to a cool place - ideally an airy, air-conditioned room, away from the sun.
2. Help them to lie down and slightly raise their legs.
3. Remove or loosen excess clothing.
4. Cool the body - with cool, damp compresses (the neck, forehead, armpits, groin), a lukewarm shower, fanning, directing a stream of air at the person.
5. Give cool fluids to drink - if the person is fully conscious and not vomiting. The best are oral rehydration solutions with electrolytes, because with sweat you lose not only water but also mineral salts. Drink in small portions.
6. Observe. After rest and cooling the condition usually improves within several dozen minutes. If, however, the symptoms intensify, and especially when disturbances of consciousness appear - treat it as heatstroke and call for help.

If heatstroke is suspected

The person has disturbances of consciousness, hot skin - it is a life-threatening condition. Every minute counts:

1. Call 112 immediately. This is the first and most important step - do not put it off.
2. Move the affected person into the shade or to a cool place, away from the sun and the source of heat.
3. Start intensive cooling of the body - and do not interrupt it until help arrives. Remove excess clothing. Pour cool water over the body, apply damp, cold compresses and ice packs wrapped in fabric to the area of the neck, armpits and groin, fan intensively to speed up evaporation.
4. Do not force fluids on a person with disturbances of consciousness - there is a risk of choking. Do not give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
5. If the person loses consciousness but is breathing - place them in the recovery position (on their side) and monitor their breathing until the emergency services arrive.
6. If the person is not breathing - begin resuscitation (chest compressions) and continue in line with the dispatcher's instructions.
7. Stay with the affected person and follow the instructions of the emergency dispatcher until help arrives.

When you must call 112

Do not delay calling for help if an overheated person develops any of the symptoms:

• any disturbances of consciousness - confusion, disorientation, talking nonsense, drowsiness, loss of consciousness,
• a very high body temperature,
• hot, dry, reddened skin,
• seizures,
• persistent vomiting that makes drinking impossible,
• no improvement despite cooling and rest,
• when the affected person is a small child, an elderly person or someone chronically ill - here the threshold for vigilance is lower.

Who is most at risk?

Overheating can affect anyone, but some groups are particularly vulnerable and require heightened attention in the heat.

• Small children and infants - their thermoregulation mechanisms are not yet fully developed, and the body heats up faster than in adults.
• Elderly people - they feel thirst and heat less strongly, have less efficient thermoregulation, and more often take medicines that affect water balance.
• Chronically ill people - especially those with heart and circulatory diseases, diabetes or obesity. Some medicines can affect sweating and hydration - it is worth discussing this with a doctor before the hot season.
• Athletes and physically active people - intense exertion in the heat is a classic cause of exertional overheating.
• People doing physical work outdoors - on building sites, in farming, on road works.

Prevention - how to avoid overheating

The best strategy is to keep the problem from arising at all. During heatwaves, stick to a few simple rules.

Hydrate regularly

• Drink water systematically throughout the day, without waiting for the feeling of thirst - it can be a delayed signal.
• With intense sweating, reach for drinks with electrolytes to replenish mineral salts as well.
• Cut down on alcohol and large amounts of coffee in the greatest heat - they do not help with hydration.

Avoid exertion in the hottest hours

• Plan workouts, running, physical work and gardening for the early morning or evening, not for the hours of 11 to 16.
• In the heat, slow your pace and take frequent breaks in the shade.

Protect yourself from the sun and heat

• Wear airy, light-coloured, loose clothing as well as a head covering.
• Look for shade, and at home cover the windows during the day and ventilate at night.
• Remember to protect your skin from the sun.

The most important heat rule

Never leave a child or an animal in a parked car - not even "for a moment" and not even with a window slightly open. The inside of a car in the sun heats up in a flash to extremely high temperatures, and the consequences can be tragic. This is a situation in which there is no margin for risk.

What is worth keeping to hand in the heat

In the season of high temperatures it is a good idea to keep a few things at home and in your backpack:

• Oral rehydration solutions with electrolytes - useful with intense sweating and heat exhaustion.
• Water - always with you, especially during outdoor activity.
• A product with a sun protection filter.
• A thermometer - to assess body temperature if needed.
• Light, light-coloured clothing and a head covering.

Remember, however, the most important boundary: home remedies and cooling help with mild overheating and heat exhaustion. If heatstroke is suspected, no product from the medicine cabinet replaces medical help - here what counts is a call to 112.

Frequently asked questions

How does heatstroke differ from sunstroke?

Sunstroke is a colloquial term for overheating caused by the direct, prolonged action of the sun's rays, especially on an uncovered head. Heatstroke is a broader concept - a dangerous overheating of the whole body, which can also occur without the sun, for example in a hot, stuffy room. In both cases the rules of first aid are similar, and a life-threatening condition requires calling for help.

How can you tell that it is already heatstroke and not exhaustion?

The two most important features are the state of consciousness and the skin. Confusion, disorientation, talking nonsense or loss of consciousness combined with hot skin are a sign of heatstroke and the need to call for help immediately. With heat exhaustion the person remains conscious, and the skin is rather cool and damp with sweat.

Should a person with heatstroke be given fever-reducing medicines?

No. The fever in heatstroke arises through a different mechanism than infectious fever, and fever-reducing medicines do not help here. What is crucial is physical cooling of the body and calling for medical help as quickly as possible. Also do not give anything by mouth to a person with disturbances of consciousness.

How quickly does a car heat up in the sun?

Very quickly. On a hot day the temperature inside a parked car can reach an extremely dangerous level within just a dozen or so minutes, and opening a window slightly changes little. That is why you must never, not even for a moment, leave a child or an animal in a car.

Are electrolytes enough for serious overheating?

Oral rehydration solutions with electrolytes are very helpful with mild overheating and heat exhaustion, when the person is conscious. They do not, however, replace medical help in heatstroke. If disturbances of consciousness or hot skin appear, first call 112 and cool the body.

Summary - what is worth remembering?

✅ Overheating is a spectrum - from mild complaints through heat exhaustion to life-threatening heatstroke.

✅ Heat exhaustion is a serious alarm - the person is conscious, sweating, the skin is cool and damp.

✅ Heatstroke is life-threatening - you will recognise it by disturbances of consciousness and hot, often dry skin.

✅ Consciousness and skin are the key - treat disturbances of consciousness in the heat with hot skin as heatstroke.

✅ With heatstroke, call 112 first - then move the person into the shade and cool their body intensively.

✅ The risk groups are children, seniors, ill people, athletes and physical workers - towards them keep heightened vigilance.

✅ Never leave a child or an animal in a parked car - this is the absolute, unconditional heat rule.

Disclaimer

This article is purely educational in nature and does not replace the knowledge from a professional first aid course or a medical consultation. Heatstroke is a state of immediate danger to life - if it is suspected, you must call for help immediately by dialling 112. If you have any doubts about the condition of the affected person, always call for help and act in line with the dispatcher's instructions. It is worth consulting a pharmacist about the choice of products available without a prescription.

And remember: heatwaves can be dangerous, but knowledge and preparation protect effectively. Knowing the difference between exhaustion and heatstroke, along with a simple medicine cabinet for hot days - with electrolytes and sun protection - gives a real sense of security to you and those close to you.

With CheaperForDrug you put your entire summer medicine cabinet into a single basket and compare its total cost across 100+ pharmacies with one click. Real savings come from comparing the whole basket, not a single product - put together your heat kit sensibly and get through the hot months safely and without overpaying.