Heat-related illness
Everybody is at risk of heat-related illness, and it’s important to know what to do if you see or experience symptoms.
Heat-related illnesses include dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke and symptoms can vary between people.
On this page:
Dehydration
Symptoms:
- dizziness
- tiredness
- irritability
- thirst
- bright or dark urine
- loss of appetite
- fainting.
What to do if you are dehydrated:
- Drink plenty of water or alternate with diluted fruit juice (1 part juice in 4-part water).
- Avoid alcohol and drinks high in caffeine and sugar.
- Move to a cool place, lie down, and remove excess clothing.
- Seek medical help if you start to feel unwell.
Heat cramps
Symptoms:
- profuse sweating
- painful muscle cramps usually in the legs and abdominal muscles.
What to do if you have heat cramps:
- Stop activity and sit quietly in a cool place.
- Increase fluid intake.
- Rest a few hours before returning to activity.
- Stretch and gently massage affected muscles.
- Seek medical help if cramps persist.
Heat exhaustion
Symptoms:
- pale complexion and profuse sweating
- fatigue, weakness and restlessness
- headache
- dizziness
- nausea
- vomiting
- weak rapid heart rate
- breathing fast and shallow
- muscle cramps
- weakness
- fainting.
What to do for heat exhaustion:
- Move to a cool place, lie down, and remove excess clothing.
- To cool down the body try a cool shower, bath or sponge bath, place moist, cool cloths on forehead, wrists, sides of neck, underarms and groin area, fan continuously.
- Give small sips of cool water or diluted fruit juice or cordial (1 part juice in 4 parts water).
- If recovery isn’t quick or vomiting occurs, seek emergency medical assistance.
Heatstroke
This is a more severe and dangerous form of heat-related illness.
Symptoms:
- confusion
- poor coordination or slurred speech
- hot, dry skin, possibly not sweating
- fast and shallow breaths
- rapid pulse
- extreme fatigue
- headache
- fainting
- vomiting and diarrhoea and loss of consciousness.
What to do for heatstroke:
This is a medical emergency.
Call triple zero (000), then:
- check person’s airway, breathing and pulse—if unconscious position on their side and commence CPR if required.
- if possible, move person to a cool place, lie them down and remove excess clothing.
- to cool the body place moist, cool cloths on forehead, wrists, sides of neck, underarms and groin area, fan continuously.
- give small sips of fluids if conscious and able to swallow.
Do not give any medications unless they are prescribed by the doctor.
Heat awareness posters
Download and display the following posters to raise awareness about:
These resources have been translated into the following languages: