This is Part 2 of our five-part Summer Health Series. If you missed it, start with Part 1: Ticks, Sunburn & Bug Bites — A Spring-to-Summer Skin Guide. Up next: swimmer’s ear; summer sports injuries; and travel health for NYC families.
Heat Is the Single Deadliest Weather Event in New York City
It does not look like a storm. There are no warnings on the news the way there are for hurricanes or blizzards. But heat quietly kills more New Yorkers than any other type of weather. The NYC Department of Health estimates that about 525 heat-related deaths happen each year in New York City — most caused by heat worsening existing conditions like heart disease, and several caused directly by heatstroke.
The risk is not spread evenly across the city. Brooklyn has the highest age-adjusted death rate from heat-related illness of any NYC borough, and Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx have the most neighborhoods identified by NYC’s Heat Vulnerability Index as high-risk during extreme heat. That includes most of the neighborhoods where AG Urgent Care patients live and work.
The good news: heat illness is one of the most preventable medical emergencies there is. And in its earlier stages, it is also one of the easiest to treat — if you know what you are looking at and act fast.
This post walks through the spectrum of heat illness, how to tell heat exhaustion from heatstroke (the difference is life-or-death), what to do before help arrives, and exactly when to walk into AG Urgent Care versus when to call 911.
The Spectrum: Heat Cramps → Heat Exhaustion → Heatstroke
Heat illness is not one condition. It is a spectrum that gets more dangerous as the body’s cooling system breaks down. Recognizing where you are on the spectrum is what determines whether you head home, walk into urgent care, or call 911.
| Stage | Key Signs | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Heat Cramps | Painful muscle cramps and spasms (usually legs or abdomen) during or after exertion; heavy sweating | Stop activity. Move to a cool place. Drink water or a sports drink. Rest until cramps subside. |
| Heat Exhaustion | Heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, cool/clammy skin, fast weak pulse, possible fainting | Cool down immediately and hydrate. If symptoms do not improve within 30–60 minutes, walk into AG Urgent Care or call your provider. |
| Heatstroke (Heat Stroke) | Body temperature ≥103°F, confusion, slurred speech, hot/red/dry or damp skin, rapid strong pulse, seizures, loss of consciousness | Call 911 immediately. Move to a cool area and begin cooling while waiting. Heatstroke is a medical emergency. |
Sources: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); National Weather Service; NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Heat Exhaustion vs. Heatstroke: The Single Most Important Distinction
If you remember nothing else from this post, remember this: confusion, slurred speech, or loss of consciousness during a hot day is a 911 call, not an urgent care visit. Heatstroke can damage the brain, heart, kidneys, and muscles within minutes, and the body temperature can rise to 106°F in just 10 to 15 minutes once thermoregulation fails.
If someone shows ANY of these signs, call 911 right now:
- Confusion, agitation, or slurred speech
- Fainting or loss of consciousness
- Seizures
- Skin that is hot to the touch and either bright red or unusually dry
- Body temperature of 103°F or higher
While waiting for EMS: move the person into the shade or air conditioning, remove excess clothing, and cool them with whatever you have — wet towels, a cold shower, ice packs to the neck, armpits, and groin, or a hose. Do not wait to start cooling.
When to Walk Into AG Urgent Care for Heat-Related Symptoms
For the milder end of the spectrum — heat cramps and heat exhaustion that are not improving with rest, shade, and hydration — AG Urgent Care is the right place. Walk into any AG location in Brooklyn or Queens for same-day evaluation and treatment.
You should come in if:
- You feel weak, dizzy, or nauseated after sun or heat exposure and rest/water has not helped within 30–60 minutes
- You have a headache that will not go away after cooling down
- You have been vomiting and cannot keep fluids down
- You are urinating less than usual or your urine is very dark
- You have a child, elderly family member, or pregnant family member with concerning heat symptoms
- You have heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, or take medications that affect hydration (diuretics, some antidepressants and blood pressure medications) and feel off after heat exposure
What an Urgent Care Visit for Heat Illness Looks Like
- Vital signs check — including temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen
- Quick history — what you were doing, how long you were exposed, what medications you take, what fluids you have had
- IV fluids if you are dehydrated and cannot rehydrate orally
- Basic labs in selected cases — checking electrolytes and kidney function
- Cooling and observation until your vitals normalize
- Clear written discharge plan — what to watch for and when to come back
Who Is Most at Risk During NYC Heat Waves?
Some New Yorkers are far more likely to end up in the ER or worse during a heat wave. If any of these describe you or someone you care for, take heat seriously and plan ahead.
| Higher-risk group | Why |
|---|---|
| Adults over 65 | Body’s ability to regulate temperature declines with age; more likely to be on medications that affect hydration |
| Infants and young children | Heat up faster than adults and cannot always tell you they are overheating |
| People with heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, or obesity | Underlying conditions make heat stress harder to handle; heat can trigger cardiac events |
| Pregnant people | Increased baseline body temperature; dehydration can cause contractions |
| Outdoor workers (construction, delivery, landscaping, food service) | Prolonged sun and exertion; often unable to take breaks during peak heat hours |
| People without air conditioning | No way to cool the body overnight, which is when heat illness often becomes dangerous |
| People taking certain medications | Diuretics, some antidepressants, beta-blockers, and antihistamines can impair sweating or fluid balance |
How to Prevent Heat Illness Before It Starts
The cheapest, simplest, and most effective treatment for heat illness is prevention.
- Hydrate before you are thirsty. By the time you feel thirsty you are already mildly dehydrated. Drink water steadily throughout the day, more if you are sweating heavily.
- Avoid peak heat hours (11 AM–4 PM) for strenuous outdoor activity when possible. Shift workouts to early morning or evening.
- Wear loose, light-colored clothing and a wide-brimmed hat.
- Use AC strategically. Spending even a few hours a day in an air-conditioned space — your home, a library, a mall — significantly reduces heat illness risk.
- Check on neighbors, especially older adults living alone, during heat waves.
- Never leave kids or pets in parked cars. Interior temperatures can rise 20°F in 10 minutes.
- Know where your closest cooling center is. NYC opens hundreds of free cooling centers across the five boroughs during heat waves — call 311 or visit nyc.gov to find the nearest one.
NYC Heat Resources Worth Knowing
- NYC 311 — call 311 or visit nyc.gov for cooling center locations, free fan distribution programs, and home energy assistance during heat emergencies
- NYC HeatRisk forecasts — a daily forecast from the National Weather Service that color-codes heat danger for the day; available at weather.gov
- NYC Cool Roofs and Be a Buddy program — free building cooling and neighbor check-in programs
- AG Urgent Care — walk into any of our Bushwick, Flatbush Junction, Brownsville, Jamaica, or Canarsie locations for same-day evaluation and IV hydration if needed. Check in online to save time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between heat exhaustion and heatstroke?
The biggest difference is mental status and body temperature. Heat exhaustion looks like heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, and nausea — but the person is still alert. Heatstroke includes confusion, slurred speech, seizures, or loss of consciousness, often with a body temperature of 103°F or higher. Heat exhaustion is treatable at urgent care or at home; heatstroke is a 911 emergency.
Can I get heatstroke without being in the sun?
Yes. “Non-exertional” heatstroke happens during heat waves in people who are not exercising — most commonly elderly people in apartments without air conditioning. It develops more slowly than exertional heatstroke but is just as deadly.
How much water should I drink during a heat wave?
For most healthy adults, the rough guide is 8–16 ounces of water per hour during heavy heat exposure. If you are sweating heavily for more than an hour, a sports drink (or salty snacks plus water) helps replace sodium. People with heart failure or kidney disease should follow their doctor’s specific fluid guidance — don’t dramatically increase intake without checking.
Are kids really more at risk?
Yes. Children’s bodies generate more heat per pound and sweat less efficiently than adults. They also do not always know to take a break. Watch for cranky behavior, flushed cheeks, complaints of headache, or unusual sleepiness — those are early heat illness signs in kids.
Can AG Urgent Care give IV fluids for dehydration?
Yes. IV hydration is one of the most common treatments we provide for heat-related illness. It is fast (most patients are in and out in under 90 minutes) and works dramatically better than drinking fluids when you are vomiting or severely dehydrated.
Coming Up in Part 3
In Part 3 of our Summer Health Series, we will tackle Swimmer’s Ear & Summer Ear Infections — what causes them, how to prevent them, and when same-day treatment at AG Urgent Care can save you days of pain.
Stay Cool. Stay Hydrated. We’re Here If You Need Us.
Heat illness is one of the most common reasons New Yorkers end up in urgent care between May and September — and one of the most preventable. If you are feeling overheated, dizzy, or dehydrated and rest plus water are not helping, walk into any AG Urgent Care location in Brooklyn or Queens, or check in online. Same-day care, no appointment needed, most insurance accepted.
If you or someone near you is confused, has slurred speech, seizures, or has lost consciousness during heat exposure — that is heatstroke. Call 911 immediately and begin cooling while you wait.
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare provider. Heatstroke is a medical emergency — if you suspect it, call 911 immediately. In a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.