Right now
Get to a cool place. Drink water.
Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Body temperature can rise to dangerous levels in 10 to 15 minutes. Know the signs: confusion, hot red skin, rapid pulse. Call 911.
Where you are right now
Your situation determines what you do
If you are indoors without air conditioning
Go to an air-conditioned public building: a library, shopping center, or community cooling center. If you cannot leave, close blinds and curtains. Use fans to circulate air but understand that fans alone are not enough when temperatures exceed the mid-90s. Take cool showers or use wet towels on your skin.
If you must be outdoors
Drink water every 15 to 20 minutes, even if you are not thirsty. Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose clothing. Rest in the shade frequently. Avoid the hottest hours, typically 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunburn makes it harder for your body to release heat.
If someone shows signs of heat exhaustion
Heavy sweating, cold and clammy skin, fast but weak pulse, nausea, dizziness, weakness. Move them to a cool place. Loosen clothing. Apply cool, wet cloths to the skin. Sip water slowly. If symptoms worsen or last more than an hour, call 911.
If someone shows signs of heat stroke
This is a medical emergency. Body temperature above 103 degrees, hot and red skin, rapid and strong pulse, confusion, loss of consciousness. Call 911 immediately. Move the person to a cooler place. Cool them rapidly with whatever is available: cool water, wet cloths on neck, armpits, and groin. Do not give fluids.
After the immediate danger
What to do next
Never leave children or pets in vehicles
Temperatures inside a parked car can rise to lethal levels in minutes, even with windows cracked. Check the back seat every time you park.
Check on vulnerable people
Older adults, infants, people with chronic illness, and people who live alone are at the highest risk. Check on them at least twice a day during extreme heat.
Watch your medications
Some medications affect the body's ability to regulate temperature or stay hydrated. If you take medications regularly, ask your pharmacist whether heat affects them.
Conserve electricity
Rolling blackouts are more likely during extreme heat. Set air conditioning to the highest comfortable temperature. Use major appliances during cooler hours to reduce strain on the grid.
Sources: CDC Extreme Heat Prevention, CDC Heat-Related Illness Signs and Symptoms, Ready.gov Extreme Heat, NWS Heat Safety, OSHA/NIOSH Heat Stress Recommendations. All safety claims verified against primary sources. Last reviewed August 30, 2026.
This guide is not professional emergency management advice. It is a plain-language starting point for someone in an active hazard right now.