Heat and cold related problems

Overheating (heat-related illness) can develop in a warm, crowded cabin, especially in passengers who are dehydrated, unwell, elderly, pregnant, or wearing heavy clothing. Signs include heavy sweating, flushed skin, weakness, dizziness, nausea, or in severe cases confusion and hot skin that has stopped sweating.

Within training, crew response to suspected overheating includes moving the passenger to a cooler area if possible, offering water, loosening tight clothing, and using a cool cloth or ventilation — while monitoring for worsening symptoms like confusion, which may indicate a more serious heat-related emergency requiring urgent escalation.

Feeling excessively cold can also occur, particularly on long flights, for passengers who are unwell, elderly, or have poor circulation. Signs include visible shivering, pale or bluish skin, confusion, or slurred speech in more serious cases.

Response within training includes offering blankets, adjusting cabin conditions where possible within crew control, and encouraging movement if appropriate and safe, while treating confusion or bluish skin as signs requiring prompt escalation rather than 'just feeling cold'.

Both conditions are usually mild and manageable with simple comfort measures, but crew stay alert to the warning signs that distinguish ordinary discomfort from a developing medical emergency.