What is the correct action to take if someone is experiencing a heat stroke?

Study for the American Heart Association First Aid Test. Engage with multiple choice questions, each enriched with hints and detailed explanations. Boost your preparedness today!

When someone is experiencing a heat stroke, the foremost priority is to promptly reduce their body temperature. Moving the individual to a cooler place is essential because it helps mitigate the heat stress their body is enduring. Initiating cooling efforts, such as applying cool, wet cloths, fanning them, or using ice packs on areas where blood vessels are close to the skin (like the neck, armpits, and groin), can significantly aid in lowering their core temperature.

Providing ice water to drink is not advised in cases of heat stroke, as it might not be effective for immediate cooling and could pose a risk if the individual is not fully conscious or able to swallow properly. Encouraging someone suffering from heat stroke to continue exercising can be extremely dangerous, as it can exacerbate their condition. Wrapping them in a blanket is inappropriate because it would trap heat rather than help dissipate it. Thus, the correct action involves both relocating the person to a cooler environment and actively initiating cooling methods to prevent severe complications or even death.

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