Crisis-Ready Society
Scenarios / Natural disasters & extreme weather

Extreme heat

Very hot weather can make anyone ill, and heat stroke can kill. This page helps families keep homes and bodies cool, spot the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and act fast.

Depends on where you live
In the UAEIn 2024 the UAE midday break banned outdoor work in direct sun from 12:30pm to 3pm between 15 June and 15 September. Check each year's announcement; the hours are a useful guide for timing family outdoor activity too.[4]

Before

  • Learn the warning signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.[1]
  • Locate nearby cool public places, such as malls or libraries, to use if your cooling fails.[1]
  • Shade windows with curtains, blinds or reflective film to keep heat out.[1]
  • Seal gaps around doors and windows and improve insulation.[1]
  • Ask your doctor before changing any medicine, and plan how to keep chilled medicines cold in a power cut.[3]
  • Know who is most at risk: babies, young children, over 65s, pregnant women and people with heart or lung conditions.[3]

During

  • Never leave children, adults or pets in a parked car, even briefly.[1]
  • Drink plenty of water through the day and limit alcohol.[2]
  • Stay out of direct sun around the middle of the day and keep to the shade.[2]
  • Wear loose, light-coloured, lightweight clothes and a wide-brimmed hat.[1]
  • Do not rely on a fan as your main cooling in very hot rooms. Use air conditioning or a cool place.[3]
  • Take cool showers and use the oven less to keep the home cooler.[1]
  • Look in on older relatives, neighbours who live alone and anyone with a long-term illness.[2]
  • Give pets shade and cool water, and keep their paws off hot pavement.[1]

Heat exhaustion

Signs

  • Tiredness, dizziness or headache[2]
  • Feeling sick or vomiting[2]
  • Heavy sweating with pale, clammy skin[2]
  • Cramps in arms, legs or stomach[2]
  • High temperature and strong thirst[2]

What to do

  • Move the person somewhere cool and take off extra clothing.[2]
  • Give water, a sports drink or oral rehydration solution.[2]
  • Cool the skin with water spray or sponging and fanning. Put wrapped cold packs on armpits or neck.[2]
  • Stay with them. They should improve within about 30 minutes.[2]

Heat stroke: a medical emergency

Signs

  • Still unwell after 30 minutes of rest, cooling and fluids[2]
  • Very high body temperature[2]
  • Hot skin that has stopped sweating[2]
  • Fast heartbeat or fast breathing[2]
  • Confusion, restlessness or poor coordination[2]
  • Seizure or loss of consciousness[2]

What to do

  • Treat it as a medical emergency and call an ambulance at once.[2]
  • Move the person to shade and remove outer clothing.[1]
  • Cool them with a cold wet cloth or ice pack on the head, neck, armpits and groin, or soak their clothes with cool water.[1]
  • If they pass out, use the recovery position and check breathing. Start CPR if there are no signs of life.[2]

Watch: 60-second guides

Heat stroke: signs and what to do right now

Videos need an internet connection. Some videos mention numbers for other countries: in the UAE call 999 police, 998 ambulance, 997 fire. More on our YouTube channel.

Official sources

  1. Ready.gov (FEMA): Extreme Heat
  2. NHS: Heat exhaustion and heatstroke
  3. CDC: About Heat and Your Health
  4. Gulf Today (WAM report of MoHRE announcement, 31 May 2024): Midday break for outdoor workers to start from June 15: UAE Ministry

Steps are written in our own words from these pages. If advice from your local authority differs, follow your local authority.

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