Heat exhaustion and heatstroke: a field-team guide

During Hajj, Umrah, and summer events, heat-related illness is among the most common cases. Telling heat exhaustion apart from heatstroke is critical:

• Heat exhaustion: heavy sweating, dizziness, headache, nausea, weakness. Move the person somewhere cool, raise their legs, and give fluids if they're alert.
• Heatstroke (an emergency): very high body temperature, confusion or changed behavior; sweating may stop or they may lose consciousness. Call EMS immediately and start rapid cooling with water and cold packs on the neck and armpits.

Prevention matters most: drink water regularly, use shade, avoid peak hours, and watch elderly people and those with chronic conditions. Our Hajj & Umrah Plex program prepares field teams for exactly this.