Heat Exhaustion
A heat illness with core body temp 100 to 103 F, marked by heavy sweating and weakness, treatable with cooling and fluids.
Heat exhaustion is a heat illness where the body's cooling response is still working but is overwhelmed by environmental load. Core body temperature is elevated (100 to 103 F) but not yet critical.
Symptoms: heavy sweating, pale skin, weakness, dizziness, nausea, headache, fast pulse, low blood pressure. The person is uncomfortable but lucid. Skin is typically cool and damp.
Treatment: move to shade or air conditioning, remove excess clothing, give cool water in sips (small amounts every few minutes), apply cool wet cloths to neck, wrists, and groin. Most cases improve in 20 to 30 minutes.
If symptoms do not improve in 30 minutes, or if mental status changes (confusion, slurred speech, agitation), the condition has progressed to heat stroke and 911 should be called immediately. Heat stroke is a medical emergency that requires aggressive cooling within minutes.