MCOLES State Licensing Practice Exam

What action should you take if a victim is showing signs of heat stroke?

1. Give them food and drink

2. Cool the body with ice

3. Induce vomiting

4. Keep them in the shade

The correct answer is: Cool the body with ice

When a victim is showing signs of heat stroke, the most crucial action is to cool the body as quickly and effectively as possible. Heat stroke is a medical emergency characterized by the body's failure to regulate temperature, leading to a dangerous rise in body temperature. Cooling the body with ice helps to quickly lower the core temperature, which can prevent serious complications such as organ damage or death. Other choices do not effectively address the immediate danger posed by heat stroke. Providing food and drink could potentially worsen the situation, especially if the victim is not conscious or is at risk of choking. Inducing vomiting is not appropriate for heat stroke and could lead to additional complications. Keeping the person in the shade is a helpful step, but it is not sufficient on its own to address the critical condition of heat stroke. Therefore, using ice to cool the body is the most effective and life-saving action in this scenario.