Heat exhaustion and heatstroke are illnesses that happen when your body overheats and struggles to cool down.
Heat exhaustion happens when your body overheats but can still control its temperature. This is usually caused by exposure to hot weather or dehydration.
Heatstroke is more serious as your body overheats but can no longer cool itself. This causes the body’s temperature to rise to dangerous levels, which can be life-threatening.
Children are more at risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke because:
- they sweat less than adults
- their bodies cannot cool down as easily
- their body temperatures can rise faster, especially in hot weather
Important
Heat exhaustion does not usually need emergency medical help if your child can cool down within 30 minutes. If it turns into heatstroke, then it needs to be treated as an emergency.
Check for signs of heat exhaustion
Children with heat exhaustion are usually tired or irritable.
Other signs of heat exhaustion can include:
- intense thirst
- weakness or fainting
- cramps in the arms, legs or stomach
- no appetite, feeling sick or vomiting
- complaining of a headache
- sweating a lot
- pale clammy skin
- temperature of more than 38 degrees Celsius (but less than 40 degrees Celsius)
Things you can do to cool your child down
If you think your child may have heat exhaustion:
- Bring them into a cool room or into the shade.
- Remove all unnecessary clothing like a jacket or socks.
- Sponge their skin with cool water. Place cold packs around their neck and armpits.
Give them a cold drink - if they are drowsy, do not try to force them to drink.
Avoid caffeine as this can increase dehydration.
Check for signs of heatstroke
Your child may:
- still feel unwell 30 minutes after being treated for heat exhaustion
- feel hot and dry
- not sweat even though they are too hot
- have a severe headache
- have a very high temperature of 40 degrees Celsius or above
- have fast breathing or is short of breath
- be confused
- have a fit (seizure)
- lose consciousness
- be unresponsive
Emergency action required: Call 112 or 999 if:
- your child has signs of heatstroke
Heatstroke is a medical emergency.
Preventing heat exhaustion and heatstroke
There are things you can do to prevent your child from getting heat exhaustion or heatstroke in hot weather.
Do
-
give them plenty of cold drinks, especially when exercising
-
bathe or shower them in cool water
-
dress them in light-coloured and loose clothing - sprinkle water over their skin or clothes
-
keep them in the shade away from the sun between 11am to 3pm
-
avoid vigorous or very active outdoor play when the temperature is over 30 degrees Celsius
Preventing sunburn in children
How heatstroke can affect children
Heatstroke is a life-threatening medical emergency.
Your child can get heatstroke if they are not able to cool their body down. As they get hotter their temperature will rise.
In severe cases, this can cause brain damage. If your child has heatstroke they need to get emergency treatment quickly. Treatment helps to bring their temperature down.
Children's bodies heat up much faster than adults' bodies. This is why children are more at risk of heatstroke.
Heat exhaustion and heatstroke can happen indoors as well as outdoors. Any environment that is too warm can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. For example, in a car or near a window on a hot day.
Never leave a child in a car
A parked car can heat up by 10 degrees Celsius or more in just 10 minutes. Opening the window of a parked car does not help keep the inside of a car cool enough. Never leave a child in a car.
Internal organs start to shut down when the body's temperature reaches 40 degrees Celsius. Someone can die at 41.7 degrees Celsius.
Preventing dehydration
Watch out for signs of dehydration in your child. Thirst is one of the earliest signs. If your child is thirsty, give them a a drink. Talk to your GP or pharmacist if you think your child is dehydrated.
Tips for keeping indoor spaces cool
Keep windows open at night if safe to do so. If not, open them early in the morning before it starts to get hot.
When the air outside becomes warmer than inside, almost close the windows. Close the curtains or blinds in indoor spaces during the day to block out the sun.
Switch off lights and electric equipment you are not using. Use a room thermometer to make sure that the room your baby sleeps in is between 16 to 20 degrees Celsius.
Do not let your child sleep in direct sunlight.