How to Treat Sunstroke

Medically-verified ways to identify, treat, and prevent sunstroke

Sunstroke is a serious condition and should not be taken lightly. Sunstroke is a type of heatstroke caused by sun exposure; it happens if the body is exposed to hot temperatures for prolonged periods of time, causing body temperature to rise to 105 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.[1] A cardinal feature of heatstroke is confusion, so you cannot always work out that you have it on your own, and it can be fatal. If you suspect someone has sunstroke, seeking immediate medical help is essential for their safety. If someone suffers from a heatstroke long enough, there are serious repercussions, including possible death. If at all possible, get medical attention right away.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Helping Someone with Sunstroke

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    Call emergency services. Depending on the symptoms and the person, you may wish to call your primary care physician or 911. Pay close attention to symptoms. Prolonged heatstroke damages the brain, causing anxiety, confusion, seizures, headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, hallucinations, coordination problems, unconsciousness, and restlessness. [2] Sunstroke can also affect the heart, kidneys, and muscles. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Call emergency services if you observe any of the following symptoms:
    • Signs of shock (ex. bluish lips and fingernails, confusion)
    • Loss of consciousness
    • A temperature over 102F (38.9C)
    • Rapid breathing and/or pulse
    • Weak heartbeat, lethargy, nausea, vomiting, and dark urine
    • In some cases, they may be collapsed, agitated or even in cardiac arrest, so take care and start CPR if necessary
    • Seizures. If the person is having seizures, clear the area for the patient’s safety. If you can, place a pillow under his head so it does not bang on the ground during the convulsions.[3]
    • If milder symptoms persist for an extended time (longer than an hour), make the call.[4]
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    Avoid medications. Our first instinct is to take medicine when we don't feel good. If someone is suffering from sunstroke, certain medications will only make the situation worse. Don’t use medications for fever like aspirin or acetaminophen. These can be harmful during a heatstroke because they may increase bleeding, which can be a very serious issue with blistered sunburns. Medications for a fever work well on someone with an infection, not on someone with heatstroke.[5]
    • Don’t give the person anything by mouth if he is vomiting or unconscious. Anything that enters the person’s mouth could become a choking hazard.
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    Cool the person down. While you wait for emergency services, get the person to a shady, cool (preferably air-conditioned) area. Remove any clothing that is tight and heavy and get the person into a cool bath, shower, stream, or pond if possible. Avoid very cold temperatures. The same goes for using ice, which may also mask the signs of a slow heartbeat and cardiac arrest. Do not do this if the person is unconscious. You can put a cool, wet rag on the back of the neck, on the groin, and/or under the armpits. If you can, mist and fan the person to promote evaporative cooling. Either mist the person with cool water or place a wet sheet over their body before fanning them; this will cause evaporative cooling, which is faster than simply wetting the person.[6]
    • Help the person remove any extra clothing (hat, shoes, socks) to aid in the cooling process.
    • Do not rub the person’s body with alcohol. This is an old wives' tale. Alcohol cools the body too quickly, which can result in a dangerous temperature fluctuation. Rub the person’s body with cool water, never alcohol. [7]
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    Replenish fluids and electrolytes. Have the person sip either Gatorade or salty water (1tsp salt per qt water) to counteract both dehydration and the loss of salts through sweating. Don’t allow him to drink quickly, which can induce shock. If you don't have any salt or Gatorade, plain water will help also.[8]
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    Help the person stay calm. When the patient stays calm, the patient can help.[9] Minimize their agitation by having them breath deeply. Have them focus on other things besides the sunstroke. Anxiety will only make their blood pump faster, raising their temperature a little more. Read How to Calm Yourself During an Anxiety Attack for more pointers about how to help them calm themselves.
    • Massage the person's muscles. Massage gently. Your goal is to increase the circulation in the muscles. Muscle cramps are one of the early symptoms of sunstroke. Usually the calf areas are most affected.[10]
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    Lay the person down. One of the most prominent effects of sunstroke is fainting. Protect against fainting by laying the person down.
    • If the person does faint, turn him onto his left side with his right leg bent for stabilization. This position is called the recovery position.[11] Check the person's mouth for vomit, so they do not choke.The left side is the best side for blood flow because our hearts are on that side.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Preventing Sunstroke

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    Know who is at risk. The elderly, workers in hot environments, obese, diabetics, those with kidney, heart, or circulation problems, and babies are at high risk. Those that have inactive or inefficient sweat glands are particularly susceptible to sunstroke. Avoid activities that force your body to retain heat, especially when it is hot outside like exercising, over-bundling your baby, or being out in the heat for too long without water.[12]
    • Certain medications also put people at greater risk. These include beta blockers, diuretics, and some medicines used to treat depression, psychosis, or ADHD.
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    Pay attention to the weather. If the heat index is above 90 degree fahrenheit or close to it, be cautious. Avoid taking babies and elderly people out into the heat.[13]
    • Be aware of the heat island effect. The heat island effect happens when the rural areas are cooler than the city areas. Those in the crowded city usually have increased temperatures ranging from 1.8–5.4 °F (−20 – −10 °C) higher than in rural areas. At nighttime, the difference can be up to 22 °F (−5.6 °C). It can happen in communities because of air pollution, greenhouse gases, water quality, air conditioning costs and energy consumption.
    • Wear light clothing appropriate for the weather.
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    Stay out of direct sunlight. Take frequent breaks and find shady areas if working outside. Use sunscreen to avoid sunburn. Always wear a hat when out in the sun, especially if you are susceptible to sunstroke.[14]
    • One of the most unfortunate causes of sunstroke is sitting in a hot car. Do not sit in a hot car. And do not leave children alone in the car, even for a few minutes.
    • If you decide to exercise, avoid the peak sun hours from 11:00am to 3:00 pm.
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    Drink water to stay hydrated. Watch your urine color, it should stay a light yellowish color.
    • Don’t drink caffeine. This will tell the body to become stimulated when what it needs to do is calm down. Though black coffee is 95% water, the effect of caffeine on the body is harmful when the person has signs of sunstroke. The heart will beat harder and faster.[15]
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    Avoid alcoholic drinks outdoors on hot days. Alcohol can interfere with body temperature by constricting your blood vessels, making it harder for blood to flow to keep you warm.[16]
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Things You’ll Need

  • Cool, shady location
  • Cold body of water / shower
  • Cold compress / mister
  • Wet sheet
  • Fan
  • Gatorade or salty water

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/heatrelillness.html
  2. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/heatrelillness.html
  3. ↑ http://www.epilepsysociety.org.uk/step-step-recovery-position
  4. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000056.htm
  5. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000056.htm
  6. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21812-heatstroke#management-and-treatment
  7. ↑ https://ufhealth.org/heat-emergencies
  8. ↑ https://ufhealth.org/heat-emergencies
  9. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3298202/
  1. ↑ http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/emergencies/heat.html
  2. ↑ https://www.sja.org.uk/get-advice/first-aid-advice/unresponsive-casualty/how-to-do-the-recovery-position/
  3. ↑ https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/heat-stress-preventing-heatstroke
  4. ↑ https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/heat-stress-preventing-heatstroke
  5. ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=90&ContentID=P01611
  6. ↑ https://healthyhorns.utexas.edu/HT/HT_heatstroke.html
  7. ↑ https://healthyhorns.utexas.edu/HT/HT_heatstroke.html

About This Article

Joshua Batt, DO
Medically reviewed by:
Joshua Batt, DO
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
This article was medically reviewed by Joshua Batt, DO. Dr. Batt is an Emergency Medicine Physician at Riverside Community Hospital in California. He received his D.O. from the Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2012. He is a member of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and has over 5 years of emergency medicine experience. This article has been viewed 642,114 times.
22 votes - 92%
Co-authors: 49
Updated: May 23, 2022
Views: 642,114
Categories: Featured Articles | Heat and Cold Injuries

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

Article SummaryX

To treat sunstroke, cool the person down by getting them to a shady, cool area or a cool bath, shower, stream, or pond. Remove any unnecessary clothing and put a cool, wet rag on the back of the neck, groin, or under the armpits. Additionally, have the person sip on an electrolyte drink, like Gatorade, or salted water. In cases where the person feels faint or dizzy, have them lie down. If they experience vomiting, fainting, shock, a weak heartbeat, or a high fever, cal 911 immediately. To learn how to prevent sunstroke, keep reading!

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