What is the recommended treatment for heat stroke?

The recommended treatment for heat stroke primarily focuses on cooling the affected individual as quickly and effectively as possible while ensuring emergency medical services are contacted. Heat stroke is a serious condition characterized by the body’s inability to regulate its temperature, leading to a dangerous rise in core body temperature which can result in severe complications or even death.

Calling 911 ensures that professional medical assistance is on the way, which is critical because heat stroke can lead to complications that require advanced care. In addition to calling for help, cooling the person with water (whether by dousing them in water, using a spray of water, or submerging them in a cool bath) is an immediate and effective method to reduce body temperature. Water helps to facilitate heat loss through evaporation and assists the body in re-establishing a safe temperature plateau.

While other methods such as applying ice packs to limbs, giving a person a cool drink, or having them rest in a shaded area can be beneficial in less severe cases like heat exhaustion, they are not sufficient alone in the case of heat stroke. Ice packs can cause localized cooling that may not effectively lower core temperature, cool drinks are not advisable due to the risk of vomiting or impaired swallowing, and lying in the shade, while helpful, does not