

Please call 911 immediately if you are having chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, sudden weakness or numbness, or if you think you have a medical emergency.
Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke Treatment
Self-Care at Home
Home care is appropriate for mild forms of heat exhaustion. Heat stroke is a medical emergency, and an ambulance should be called immediately.
- For mild cases of heat exhaustion
- Heat stroke (do not attempt to treat a case of heat stroke at home, but you
can help while waiting for medical assistance to arrive.)
- Call 911 immediately
- Move the person to a cooler environment, or place him or her in a cool bath
of water (as long as he or she is conscious and can be attended
continuously).
- Alternatively, moisten the skin with lukewarm water and use a fan to blow
cool air across the skin.
- Give cool beverages by mouth only if the person has a normal mental state and can tolerate it.
- Call 911 immediately
Medical Treatment
The treatment is directed at cooling the patient in a controlled fashion while making sure that the patient stays hydrated and that their blood flow is normal.
- Treatment of heat exhaustion
- Because heat exhaustion generally develops gradually, a person will often
be dehydrated. Usually they may be given something to drink, and a cool sport
beverage (with 6% or less glucose) should be used. IV fluid may be used if the
person does not tolerate oral replacement (if he or she cannot keep anything
down).
- The patient should stay in a cool environment and avoid strenuous activity for several days.
- Because heat exhaustion generally develops gradually, a person will often
be dehydrated. Usually they may be given something to drink, and a cool sport
beverage (with 6% or less glucose) should be used. IV fluid may be used if the
person does not tolerate oral replacement (if he or she cannot keep anything
down).
- Treatment of heat stroke
- Treatment is aimed at reducing the patient's core temperature to normal as
quickly as possible.
- The doctor may use immersion, evaporative, or invasive cooling
techniques.
- In the evaporative technique, cold or ice packs may be placed in the
armpits or groin. The skin is kept moist with cool fluid, and fans are directed
to blow across the body.
- An IV will be started and fluids are given rapidly.
- The patient's urine output will be monitored.
- Treatment will continue until the patient's body core temperature is
101.3-102.2°F (38.5-39°C) and then stopped to keep from making the patient too
cold.
- The patient most likely be admitted to the hospital for further blood tests and observation.
- Treatment is aimed at reducing the patient's core temperature to normal as
quickly as possible.
more information from eMedicineHealth
WebMD Medical Reference from eMedicineHealth
Reviewed by
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD on May 24, 2006
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.
© 2006 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.


