First Aid & Emergencies
Call 911 NOW if you are having:
- Chest Pain
- Difficulty Breathing
- Severe Bleeding
- Sudden Weakness or Numbness
- A Medical Emergency
Heat Exhaustion Treatment
Call 911 if:
- The person has a very high, weak pulse rate and rapid shallow breathing, especially when combined with high or low blood pressure
- The person is unconscious, disoriented, or has a high body temperature
- The person has warm, dry skin, elevated or lowered blood pressure, and hyperventilation
Protecting Your Child From Dehydration and Heat Illness
With the hot days of summer come summer sports: baseball, tennis, football practice, both in the neighborhood and at camp. Before you send the kids out to practice -- or just for a long day of play in the sun -- learn to protect your child against the dangers of dehydration and heat illness. WebMD turned to Albert C. Hergenroeder, professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and chief of the sports medicine clinic at Texas Children's Hospital, for answers to parents' common questions...
Read the Protecting Your Child From Dehydration and Heat Illness article > >
1. Lower Body Temperature
- Get the person out of the heat and into a cool environment.
- If air-conditioning is not available, fan the person.
- Spray the person with a garden hose, get him into a cool shower, apply cool compresses, or give the person a sponge bath
2. Rehydrate
- Give cool, nonalcoholic beverages as long as the person is alert.
3. Rest
- Have the person avoid physical activity for the rest of the day.
- Give over the counter acetaminophen if the person has a mild headache.
4. See a Health Care Provider
Untreated heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke. See a doctor that day if:
- Symptoms get worse or last more than an hour
- The person is nauseated or vomiting
WebMD Medical Reference
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