In the summer months children spend more time outdoors, yet a small child's ability to regulate body temperature is disrupted far more quickly than an adult's. A child who is playing in the heat and forgets to drink can, before anyone notices, develop heat exhaustion and — if no precautions are taken — the life-threatening condition of heat stroke. In this article you will learn how to tell the symptoms apart, how to give correct first aid at home, and when to go to the emergency room without delay.

Symptoms

Heat-related illness is assessed in two stages. Recognizing the early stage prevents the picture from worsening.

  • Heavy sweating, pale and clammy (sticky) skin

  • Headache, dizziness, weakness and fatigue

  • Nausea, loss of appetite, muscle cramps in the arms and legs

  • Restlessness, whining, extreme thirst

  • Fast but weak pulse; body temperature may be slightly elevated (usually below 40°C)

  • Body temperature rising to 40°C or above

  • Hot, flushed skin; reduced or completely stopped sweating

  • Confusion, excessive drowsiness, impaired speech and behavior

  • Seizures, fainting, unresponsiveness to sound and touch

  • Rapid, shallow breathing and a fast heartbeat

The most important differences between heat exhaustion and heat stroke are the level of consciousness and body temperature. If there is confusion or a very high temperature, the situation has become an emergency.

What to Do at Home

At the first signs of heat exhaustion, act without delay:

  1. Move to a cool place. Immediately take the child to a shaded, cool, or air-conditioned area, away from the sun.
  2. Reduce clothing. Remove excess and heavy garments to draw sweat away from the skin.
  3. Cool the skin. Wet the skin with lukewarm-to-cool (not ice-cold) water; use a damp cloth, sponge, or water spray, and fan the child to speed up evaporation.
  4. Give fluids. If the child is fully conscious and can swallow comfortably, give cool water or an oral rehydration solution in small sips. Babies' fluid needs are different; for details see our article on when to give babies water.
  5. Cool the key areas. You can apply cool, damp cloths to the armpits, neck, and groin.
  6. Rest and monitor. If the symptoms do not clearly improve within 30-60 minutes, or if they worsen, consult a doctor.

Avoid: Sudden immersion in ice-cold water, rubbing with alcohol or cologne, and forcing fluids on an unconscious or vomiting child. These practices can cause harm.

When to See a Doctor / Go to the ER

If any of the following red flags are present, call 112 (emergency services) without delay; this picture may be heat stroke:

  • Body temperature reaching 40°C
  • Confusion, inability to wake the child, unresponsiveness
  • Having a seizure
  • No sweating despite hot, dry skin
  • Repeated vomiting, unable to take any fluids by mouth
  • Rapid, shallow breathing, bluish discoloration of the lips and skin
  • In babies under 6 months, any marked heat-related restlessness, drowsiness, or refusal to feed

Keep cooling the child in a cool environment until help arrives. Heat stroke is an emergency that requires prompt intervention; for other emergencies, our basic first aid guide for children will show you the way.

This content is for general informational purposes only; it does not replace diagnosis and treatment. If your child shows signs of heat stroke or heat exhaustion, and especially in any situation with red flags, be sure to consult a pediatric health and diseases specialist.

Uzm. Dr. Hasan Keleş — Pediatric Health and Diseases Specialist, Gaziantep