Heat stroke kills fast: doctor warns of a 15-minute 'diamond window', not a golden hour

An emergency medicine doctor warns that heat stroke allows far less time to act than a heart attack — not a "golden hour" but a "diamond quarter-hour". Early signs include drowsiness, loss of thirst and cessation of sweating, which can rapidly progress to convulsions, loss of consciousness and multi-organ failure. Immediate body cooling and calling an ambulance are critical first steps.