Apply ice packs to the neck, armpits, and groin to quickly cool a guest with overheating and reduced consciousness.

Heat is a funny thing at a pool—that bright sun, that cool water, and then, suddenly, someone doesn’t feel right. It can sneak up on a guest and turn a sunny afternoon into a medical moment in minutes. When you’re the lifeguard on duty, your job isn’t to panic—it’s to move with calm, clear steps that calm the person, the crowd around you, and, honestly, your own nerves. So, what happens if a guest has a decreased level of consciousness because they’re overheating? The short answer is this: apply ice packs to specific areas to cool the body quickly, then follow through with a plan that keeps everyone safe.

Let me explain why that particular action matters. Heat-related illnesses aren’t just “feeling hot.” They can affect the brain and the heart in real time. When someone’s consciousness drops, the body is telling you something urgent is going on: the internal temperature is too high, and the brain isn’t getting the signals it needs to stay awake and protect the airway. In the moments after you notice the change, you want to act fast but with precision. Local cooling—not a full-body freeze—is a practical, effective way to bring the temperature down while you set up the rest of your response.

First things first: assess and secure the scene

• Check for safety. You’re a pool lifeguard, not a bystander. If the crowd is growing, use your voice to guide people away from the person and toward a shaded area or a cooler part of the deck.

• Call for help. If you’re alone, activate your emergency system and summon another supervisor or emergency medical services (EMS). Time matters here, and you want backup as soon as possible.

• Check responsiveness and breathing. If the guest isn’t awake or is gasping, your priority shifts toward airway protection and prompt emergency care. If they’re conscious but disoriented, you’ll still move fast—but with a little more nuance to protect them.

Move indoors, but don’t lose sight of the goal

You’ll often hear “move them indoors” as part of the immediate plan. That’s sensible: a cooler environment helps, and it keeps the crowd out of the sun’s direct glare. But here’s the thing: moving indoors is not the end of the story. It’s a step that buys you time to apply targeted cooling and to set up professional help. The goal is to reduce the core temperature as quickly as possible without causing other problems (like shivering, which can counteract cooling, or exposing them to a bump or fall during transport).

Be careful with clothing and handling

• Removing clothes can aid cooling, but with a conscious guest you can usually do this more easily. When consciousness is impaired, you want to avoid exposing the person more than necessary. The rule of thumb: loosen tight clothing and remove outer layers, but don’t strip down completely unless you’re certain it’s safe and practical for the patient to be uncovered.

• Support the head and neck, keep the airway open, and prevent overheating from the environment while you’re cooling.

The ice-pack technique—where to put the cold and why it helps

The recommended immediate action for a guest with decreased consciousness due to overheating is to apply ice packs to specific areas—necks, armpits, and groin. Here’s why those spots matter:

• They sit near large blood vessels. When you place a cold pack over these areas, you’re cooling the blood near the surface, which helps bring the core temperature down faster.

• It’s practical and portable. Ice packs are easy to carry around the pool deck and don’t require a lot of setup.

• It’s targeted, not drastic. You’re not dunking the whole body in cold water (which can shock the system) but giving the body quick cooling where it matters most.

How to do it right, step by step

• Prepare the cold packs with a barrier. Wrap ice packs in a towel or sleeve to protect the skin from frostbite and direct cold injury.

• Apply to the neck, under the arms, and in the groin region. These areas are where the large blood vessels lie close to the surface, so cooling here can have a rapid, systemic effect.

• Check the response. If the person shows signs of improvement (improved alertness, steadier breathing), you can continue cooling while you monitor. If there’s no improvement or if the condition worsens, call EMS immediately and follow medical guidance.

• Don’t rely solely on ice packs. This is part of a broader cooling plan that includes removing excess heat sources, providing shade or a cooler environment, and monitoring vital signs.

What about fluids? When they’re safe to give, and when they aren’t

Fluids play a crucial role in heat illness, but there’s a caveat that’s important here: if the person has a reduced level of consciousness, don’t give fluids by mouth unless you’re certain they can swallow safely without choking. If there’s any risk of aspiration or vomiting, avoid giving liquids until professional medical personnel assess them. If consciousness returns and they can swallow, small sips of cool water or an electrolyte solution can be offered under supervision.

If the guest is fully awake and cooperative, you might discuss hydration in the moment—how dehydration adds heat strain and what to drink as they recover. But in this exact scenario, a quick, precise cooling approach takes precedence over a drink in the moment.

A few practical caveats to keep in mind

• Ice packs are not a substitute for medical care. They buy time, which is exactly why lifeguards use them; they aren’t a complete treatment in isolation.

• Full-body cooling is sometimes used in medical settings, but that should be performed by trained professionals. On the deck, you’re aiming for rapid, practical cooling that you can manage while waiting for EMS.

• Watch for other heat-related symptoms. Dizziness, headache, confusion, nausea, and hot, dry skin can all be indicators of heat stroke or heat exhaustion. If you notice any of these on top of altered consciousness, escalate the response and get medical help on the way.

Stories from the deck: why these details matter

You’ve probably seen lifeguard handbooks and drills that feel a bit clinical. Here’s the real-world flavor: a guest who’s overheated and slipping into confusion can become disoriented, which makes any attempt to cool a delicate balance of speed and gentleness. If you rush to strip the person down without thought, you might cause another accident or leave them exposed to the sun. If you go straight to fluids without ensuring they can swallow safely, you risk choking. The ice-pack approach, thoughtfully applied, gives you a reliable, repeatable action that buys you time to monitor and to summon help.

A few more tips that often come in handy

• Keep a visible, quick reference on the deck: a simple checklist for heat-related emergencies. It helps new lifeguards stay steady and seasoned ones stay sharp.

• Use cooling towels or dedicated cooling devices in addition to ice packs. They’re light, fast, and easy to deploy.

• Hydration culture matters. Encourage guests to hydrate well before the heat climbs too high, and keep water stations readily available.

• Weather awareness isn’t optional. The heat index and sun exposure drive how aggressive your cooling plan should be. If it’s a scorcher, your deck routines should reflect that reality.

Putting it into a quick, memorable routine

• Spot the sign: confusion or reduced responsiveness during heat exposure? Act fast.

• Cool fast, safely: apply wrapped ice packs to neck, armpits, and groin.

• Move to shade or indoors, but keep monitoring and be ready to escalate.

• Don’t give fluids unless the guest can swallow safely.

• Call EMS if there’s no improvement or if the situation is clearly worsening.

If you’re on a pool team that’s trained under the Jeff Ellis Management framework, you’ll recognize this approach as a solid, practical response that blends clinical knowledge with on-deck practicality. It’s not about fancy medical jargon; it’s about knowing what to do first, what to do next, and how to keep the situation from spiraling. It’s a rhythm you can fall into: assess, act, monitor, and call for help when the clock is ticking.

A closing thought for the curious and the conscientious

Heat illness doesn’t always announce itself with a loud siren. Sometimes it’s quiet, almost polite in the way it hides behind a smile or a casual conversation. That’s why we train. That’s why we practice these exact steps. Because when the sun is blazing and a guest starts to slip, you want your instincts to land on a plan that’s proven to work in the real world, not just in a manual. Ice packs on the right spots, careful handling, and a ready call to EMS—these aren’t clever tricks. They’re the core of a responsible, effective response that you can rely on when minutes matter.

Quick recap for easy recall

• The best immediate action for decreased consciousness due to overheating: apply ice packs to the neck, armpits, and groin.

• Move to shade or a cooler space, but keep the focus on rapid cooling and safety.

• Loosen clothing, monitor breathing, and avoid giving fluids if the guest can’t swallow safely.

• Call EMS and get professional care on the way as you continue to monitor and support.

Now that you’ve got the gist, you can see why this technique isn’t just a line in a checklist. It’s a practical tool that helps you stay calm, act decisively, and keep people safe when heat stress threatens to turn a cheerful day into a risky incident. And that’s what effective lifeguarding is all about—bundling know-how with presence of mind, so everyone leaves the pool feeling a little safer, even when the weather pushes the limits.