Heat Exhaustion & Sunburn in Bali: First Aid & When to See a Doctor
Bali sits just south of the equator, so the sun is strong all year and the humidity makes it harder for your body to cool down. A long beach day, a surf lesson, a sunrise trek or an afternoon on a scooter can easily end with a headache, dizziness or painful skin. This guide explains how to tell mild heat illness from an emergency, what to do in the first 30 minutes, and how to look after sunburn.
Quick Answer
Heat exhaustion (heavy sweating, dizziness, headache, nausea, cramps) usually improves within 30 minutes of getting somewhere cool, drinking fluids and cooling the skin. Heatstroke (very high temperature, confusion, hot skin, collapse) is an emergency: call 118 or 112. Sunburn usually heals within 7 days. See a doctor for blistering over a large area, fever, vomiting, dizziness, or sunburn in a young child.
Heat Exhaustion vs Heatstroke: How to Tell the Difference
Both happen when your body gets too hot. The difference is whether it can still cool itself down.
| Heat exhaustion | Heatstroke (emergency) | |
|---|---|---|
| Skin | Pale, clammy, sweating heavily | Hot; may be dry and stop sweating |
| Mind | Tired, irritable, but thinking clearly | Confused, restless, slurred speech, may collapse or have a seizure |
| Other signs | Headache, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, cramps, intense thirst | Very high temperature, fast breathing, fast heartbeat |
| What to do | Cool down and rehydrate; should improve within 30 minutes | Call 118 or 112 and start cooling immediately |
Heat exhaustion can turn into heatstroke if it isn't treated, so act early.
First Aid for Heat Exhaustion: The First 30 Minutes
Get out of the heat
Move to shade or an air-conditioned room. Lie down and raise your legs slightly.
Remove extra clothing
Take off hats, wetsuits, rash guards or anything tight.
Drink fluids
Sip water, an electrolyte drink or oral rehydration solution (such as Oralit from any apotek). Avoid alcohol.
Cool the skin
Spray or sponge with cool water and use a fan. Cool, wet cloths on the neck and armpits also help.
The 30-minute rule: you should start to feel better within about 30 minutes. If you don't, or if you can't keep fluids down, get medical help. If confusion, collapse or a seizure appears at any point, treat it as heatstroke.
If You Suspect Heatstroke
- Call 118 (ambulance) or 112, or get the person to the nearest hospital emergency department.
- While you wait, keep cooling them: shade or air conditioning, cool water on the skin, fanning.
- If they are unconscious but breathing, lay them on their side in the recovery position.
- Don't give drinks to someone who is confused or drowsy, as they may choke.
Heatstroke needs hospital care. A home visit is not the right choice here. See IV drip vs hospital in Bali.
Sunburn: How to Look After It
Sunburnt skin feels hot, sore and tight, and may peel after a few days. On darker skin, redness can be harder to see, so pain and heat are better guides. Most sunburn gets better within a week.
Do
- Get out of the sun as soon as you notice it
- Cool the skin with a cool shower or damp towel
- Apply aftersun, aloe vera gel or an unperfumed moisturiser
- Drink extra water: sunburn draws fluid to the skin
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain, as directed on the pack
- Cover the area from the sun until it has fully healed
Don't
- Put ice or ice packs directly on the skin
- Use petroleum jelly (Vaseline) on burnt skin
- Pop blisters or pick at peeling skin
- Wear tight clothing over the burn
- Go back into strong sun without covering up
- Drink alcohol while you are still burnt and dehydrated
When Sunburn Is More Than Skin Deep
Severe sunburn (sometimes called "sun poisoning") often comes with heat exhaustion and dehydration. See a doctor if you have:
- Blistered or swollen skin over a large area
- A high temperature, chills or shivering
- Headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting or muscle cramps
- Signs of infection in blisters: spreading redness, pus or increasing pain
- Any sunburn in a baby or young child
When Does IV Hydration Help?
Most mild heat exhaustion and sunburn get better with rest, shade and oral fluids. A doctor visit with IV fluids can help when:
- You are vomiting and can't keep drinks down
- You still feel dizzy, weak or sick after resting and drinking
- Severe sunburn has left you feverish and dehydrated
The doctor first checks whether you are safe to treat at your villa or need a hospital, then replaces fluids and salts directly. Read more on our hydration therapy page.
Still dizzy or sick after resting? A doctor can come to your villa or hotel.
Book via WhatsApp, 24/7Hydration IV from IDR 1,500,000 · Home visit fee depends on distance
How to Avoid It in Bali
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between heat exhaustion and heatstroke?
Heat exhaustion causes heavy sweating, dizziness, headache, nausea, cramps and thirst, and usually improves within 30 minutes of cooling down and drinking fluids. Heatstroke is an emergency: the body can no longer cool itself, causing very high temperature, hot skin that may stop sweating, confusion, fast heartbeat, seizures or collapse. In Bali, call 118 or 112.
What should I do for heat exhaustion?
Move to a cool place, lie down with your legs slightly raised, remove extra clothing, sip water or an electrolyte drink, and cool your skin with cool water and a fan. You should start to feel better within 30 minutes. If not, or if symptoms get worse, get medical help.
How long does sunburn last?
Mild to moderate sunburn usually gets better within 7 days. Pain is often worst in the first 1–2 days, and the skin may peel after a few days. Severe sunburn with blistering can take longer to heal.
When should I see a doctor for sunburn?
See a doctor if your skin is blistered or swollen over a large area, or if you have a high temperature, chills, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting or muscle cramps. Babies and young children with sunburn should always be checked.
Can I go surfing or swimming with sunburn?
It's best to keep sunburnt skin out of the sun until it has healed. If you do go out, cover the area with clothing such as a rash guard, use SPF 30+ on the rest of your skin and reapply after swimming. Skip it if you have blisters, fever or feel unwell.
Related Guides
Not Feeling Better After Resting?
Our doctors visit villas and hotels across Bali 24/7. They check how dehydrated you are, treat you on the spot, and refer you to hospital if needed.
Contact Our Medical TeamAvailable 24/7 · Home visits across Bali
Medically reviewed by
Dr. Dewa Angga
General Practitioner — SIP Nomor: MR51032507002112
Dr. Dewa Angga is a licensed Indonesian general practitioner with experience in travel medicine, emergency care, and IV therapy for tourists and expats across Bali. He reviews the clinical accuracy of this page.
Last reviewed: September 25, 2026