Wear porous and loose fitting clothing that allows evaporative heat loss and air to circulate to your body. Rest frequently, preferably in the shade. Wipe cool water on exposed areas in the skin. Dip clothing periodically in water to help cool the skin. Sometimes the only way to stop possible heat illness and prevent irreparable damage is to cool the victim as quickly as possible.
Ice baths cool a victim quickly but require large amount of ice to be effective.
Cool water baths can be successful if you stir the water to prevent a warm layer from forming around the body. This is the most effective method in highly humid conditions. Spraying the victim with water combined with fanning is another effective method, though not as effective in high humidity. Ice bags wrapped in wet towels and placed against the large veins in the groin, armpits and sides of the neck also cool the body, though not nearly as quickly as immersion. Some cautions need to be remembered when employing any cooling method.