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Prevent and treat heat illness

Outdoor work on the land in hot weather can cause heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat stroke is a medical emergency that can be fatal if treatment is delayed.

How

1. Plan heavy work for the coolest hours and take regular breaks in shade with water.
2. Learn heat exhaustion signs: headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, heavy sweating, thirst and less urine. Move the person out of the heat, cool them, give sips of cool water and get medical advice.
3. Learn heat stroke signs: confusion, slurred speech, fainting or seizures, and very high body temperature. CDC notes it can reach 106 F (41 C) or more within 10 to 15 minutes.
4. For heat stroke, call emergency services at once and cool the person fast. Whole-body cold or ice water immersion is the preferred treatment; wet cloths, cold packs and fanning are the fallback. Full first aid is in medical-22.
5. Keep a cool room or shaded area on the estate as a refuge (see the thermal module).

Safety: Never leave a person with heat illness alone.

Sources

1. Heat-related Illnesses. CDC National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, accessed 2026-11
2. Heat Illness: Practice Guidelines (Am Fam Physician, December 2025). American Academy of Family Physicians, accessed 2026-11

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