FIFA Is Here: A Doctor's Playbook For Staying Safe In The Heat

InnovationHealthcareFIFA Is Here: A Doctor's Playbook For Staying Safe In The HeatByLisa Fitzpatrick,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about health innovation, care access barriers and prevention.Follow AuthorJun 13, 2026, 05:29pm EDTLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 12: United States fans cheer in the stands during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)FIFA via Getty ImagesThe FIFA World Cup has returned to the United States alongside sweltering temperatures that could create a public health crisis across the country. Yesterday, in Washington, DC, I walked past the outdoor viewing station on the National Mall at 10:30 AM, and it was already 92 degrees. If you plan to enjoy matches outdoors, especially on the East Coast and in the South, where temperatures are expected to soar above 90 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the tournament, plan ahead to avoid heat exhaustion or heatstroke.Why heat deserves your attentionHeat-related illness is the deadliest weather-related threat in the United States and claims more lives each year than floods, hurricanes and tornadoes combined. We don’t talk enough about the dangers of heat because its impact is less visible than a catastrophic flood or tornado that simultaneously affects thousands in a mass-casualty event covered on the evening news. The good news is that heat-related illness is almost entirely preventable if you know what to watch for and how to act.What to know about heat exhaustion vs. heatstrokeBecause heat illness can sneak up on you, it is important to know the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat exhaustion is the warning and precedes heatstroke. It happens when your body is losing water and electrolytes through sweating faster than you can replace them. The most common early signs are headache...