This page will help you prepare and take the correct action to provide first aid for hyperthermia.
When does hyperthermia occur?
Hyperthermia occurs when the body temperature rises abnormally above 37 degrees Celsius due to the body's inability to regulate body temperature in response to the ambient air temperature.
Forms of hyperthermia include:
- Heat exhaustion.
- Heat syncope.
- Heat cramps.
- Heat stroke.
- Heat stress and fatigue.
Causes of hyperthermia:
- Exposure to high environmental and atmospheric temperatures and the body's absorption of these temperatures.
- Physical exertion while exposed to heat.
Factors that increase the risk of hyperthermia:
- Dehydration.
- Age-related changes, such as poor circulation and ineffective sweat glands in the skin.
- Certain medications.
- Heart, lung, and kidney diseases, and conditions causing general weakness and fever.
- Extreme obesity or underweight.
What are the symptoms of hyperthermia?
Mild to moderate hyperthermia:
- Moderate rise in body temperature.
- Pale skin.
- Profuse sweating.
- Thirst.
- Headache.
- Muscle cramps.
- Rapid and weak pulse.
- Feeling dizzy or fainting.
Severe hyperthermia:
- Sweating stops, indicating severe dehydration.
- Temperature above 40 degrees Celsius.
- Dry, red, and hot skin.
- Nausea.
- Muscle cramps.
- Pain throughout the body.
- Signs of confusion.
- Seizures or loss of responsiveness.
- Vomiting.
How to manage hyperthermia?
- Advise the affected person to stop any physical activities, and move them to a shaded area or air-conditioned place, and try to have them lie down.
- Remove excess clothing as much as possible.
- Encourage the person to shower, or cool the body with cold sponges for about 15 minutes or until their temperature drops below 39°C.
- Place a wet, cold towel or ice on the neck, armpits, and groin if the person cannot bathe.
- If the person can drink, offer them cold fluids like water.
- If the person shows signs of confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures, temperature above 39 degrees, or inability to drink without vomiting, call the ambulance service in your country.
Ambulance numbers in the Gulf countries:
- Oman: 9999
- Saudi Arabia: 997
- Kuwait: 112
- Qatar: 999
- UAE: 998
- Bahrain: 999
- Yemen: 195
