Treating heatstroke and heat exhaustion
Machine translation from Dutch, not yet checked by a clinician.
Heat exhaustion and heatstroke are life-threatening at high temperatures without cooling.
What to do
• Move the person straight to a cool, shaded place
• Remove excess clothing
• Cool the body with damp cloths on the neck, armpits and groin
• Give small sips of cool water if the person is conscious
• Lay the person down and raise the legs
Do not do
• Do not give water to someone who is unconscious
• Do not use ice-cold cloths — this causes shivering, which raises core temperature
Warning signs
• The person is confused or unresponsive — heatstroke, call 112
• The person stops sweating while it is very hot — a dangerous sign
Get help if
• Confusion, unconsciousness or seizures in the heat
• Body temperature above 40°C
Why this matters
Heatstroke (not to be confused with heat exhaustion) is a life-threatening emergency in which core temperature becomes dangerously high.
Source: WHO Heat Health Action Plan · reviewed 2025-01-01