Sunstroke or heatstroke: what is it, how to prevent it, and what to do about it?

What is heatstroke, and is it dangerous?

• Heatstroke occurs when your body is overheated by the sun's heat. Your body temperature rises above 40 degrees Celsius during heatstroke.
• Heatstroke usually occurs from being active in the sun on a hot day when your head and/or body are unprotected from sunlight.
• The risk of heatstroke is higher if you don't drink enough. In dry conditions, you sometimes lose a lot of fluids without realizing it, and your body can no longer regulate your temperature.
• In high humidity, such as in the tropics, your body can also overheat more quickly.
• If the early signs of heatstroke, such as dizziness, confusion, and nausea, are ignored, heatstroke can be life-threatening.

What can you do to prevent heatstroke?

• Adapt your activities to the temperature and humidity. On hot, sunny days, it's best to avoid exercising or walking in the sun between 12 and 3 PM.
• Covering your head with a cap or hat significantly reduces the risk of heatstroke.
• Drink plenty of fluids. When you sweat a lot, you need extra salts in addition to water to maintain your fluid balance.
• During heatstroke, the person experiencing it is often not very sharp and alert, so it's important to take good care of each other.

How can you treat heatstroke?

• A person with heatstroke has a high body temperature, so the entire body needs to be cooled.
• Remove the person from the sun and remove excess clothing.
• Cool the body with water and/or moving air.
• Heatstroke is also dehydration: give them water, juice, or, if available, an ORS solution.