Overview
When Heat Becomes a Neurologic Emergency
A person who is confused, seizing, or unconscious after heat exposure has more than dehydration until proven otherwise.
A person who is confused, seizing, or unconscious after heat exposure has more than dehydration until proven otherwise. The combination of severe hyperthermia and acute neurological dysfunction signals heat stroke, a time-critical emergency in which ongoing heat exposure can rapidly injure the brain and other organs. The first response does not wait for laboratory confirmation. Activate EMS or the facility's emergency response, move the person out of the heat, position them flat, and begin whole-body cooling while continuously supporting airway, breathing, circulation, and core-temperature measurement. Sweating does not make the situation safe: a person with exertional heat stroke may still be diaphoretic.