[First aid of heat-related illness]

The first step in treating heat-related illness is recognizing it. The prognosis of heat stroke, the most critical type of the heat-related illnesses, is directly related to the time that hyperthermia lasted. The most important sign to be aware of heat stroke is altered mental status, because the brain is extremely sensitive organ to high temperature. Once a patient is identified as potentially suffering from heat stroke, immediate cooling and transportation to the appropriate hospital should be started. On the other hand, mild illness may be treated by on-site management including rest and oral hydration. The major point of the first aid of heat-related illness is taught as "FIRE". The abbreviation of Fluid, Ice(cooling), Rest and recognition of the Emergency. Here, I want to make some comments in reverse order of "FIRE", emphasizing that the most important first step is recognition of the emergency.