Collapse at 42 Degrees

Condition	Core temperature	Skin	Conscious level
Heat cramps	Normal	Sweating	Alert
Heat exhaustion	38–40°C	Sweating, clammy, pale	Alert but weak, dizzy, nauseated
Heat stroke	Above 40°C	Often hot and dry, may be sweating in exertional cases	Confusion, aggression, seizures, collapse

Aman = exertional heat stroke. The decisive features are core temperature 40.6°C plus central nervous system disturbance (confusion, slow answers, not knowing the score) plus vomiting and a weak rapid pulse. Hot dry skin fits classic heat stroke. He is not merely exhausted; heat exhaustion patients remain oriented and their temperature stays under 40°C.

The other two = heat cramps. Painful thigh cramps with heavy sweating and full alertness, no confusion and no high temperature.

Why the distinction matters: heat stroke is a medical emergency with a real risk of organ damage and death if cooling is delayed; heat cramps are treated on the spot with fluid, salt and stretching. Misclassifying Aman as 'cramps' or 'exhaustion' is the error that kills athletes.

Sequence (cool first, transport second)

1. Stop play; call the ambulance (already done) and tell them it is suspected heat stroke.
2. Move him to shade, remove shirt, boots, shin guards.
3. Begin aggressive cooling at once: cold water immersion if a tub is available, otherwise continuous cold-water soaking plus ice packs to neck, armpits and groin, and fanning.
4. Check airway, breathing and circulation; place him in the recovery position if he vomits, and keep monitoring.
5. Continue cooling during transport; do not wait for the temperature to normalise before moving him.
6. Hand over the details - time of collapse, temperature reading, cooling started - to the medical team.

Mistakes in the coach's plan

• Pouring water on him and waiting ten minutes: sprinkling is far too weak; immersion or continuous soaking is needed, and cooling must be continuous, not once.
• Salt drink by mouth: he is confused and has vomited, so oral fluids risk aspiration. Rehydration here is intravenous, in hospital.
• Sending him back after ten minutes: absolutely wrong. A heat-stroke athlete is removed from play for the day and only returns after medical clearance.
• Letting play continue: the referee should suspend play, apply the competition heat protocol and provide cooling breaks, because other players are already symptomatic.

Prevention protocol for the remaining days

• Reschedule: no matches between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.; play early morning and evening. If that is impossible, shorten halves and use mandatory 2–3 minute cooling breaks per half.
• Acclimatisation: players need 7–14 days of gradual heat exposure; teams coming from cooler districts are at higher risk and need extra breaks.
• Fluids: 200–300 mL every 15–20 minutes, cool water plus electrolyte drinks for sessions over an hour; weigh players before and after to estimate losses (1 kg ≈ 1 L).
• Cooling facilities on site: shaded bench area, ice, tubs, misting fans, an ambulance and a trained first-aider at every ground.
• Screening: ask players about recent illness, fever, dehydration or diarrhoea; check urine colour; educate on warning symptoms (headache, dizziness, confusion, stopping sweating).

Return-to-play criteria for Aman

• No same-day return under any circumstances.
• Medical clearance from a physician, including kidney function if there was severe dehydration or dark urine.
• A graded return over 5–7 days: light indoor work → short training in cool hours → partial session → full training → match, with daily weight and urine checks.
• Permanent education: he must report dizziness or confusion immediately rather than hiding it, and the coach must never use 'toughness' as a reason to delay cooling.