You have been called to a residence for a patient who is sick. On scene the family tells you that the patient is being treated for the "stomach flu" and has had a fever of 102°F for the past two days. She has been taking all of the medications prescribed by her doctor but this evening became very "sweaty." Assessment shows her to be stable with a pulse of 88, respirations 18, adequate blood pressure of 128/68 mmHg, and an oral temperature of 100.2°F. Based on this, the EMT should recognize the:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's body is attempting to cool itself by transferring heat into the sweat, which is then evaporated into the air. This is a natural cooling mechanism known as evaporation. The body produces sweat, which contains water and salt, as a way to cool down and regulate its temperature. As the sweat evaporates from the skin, it takes away some of the heat from the body, lowering its temperature. In this case, the patient's fever is causing her to sweat more in an attempt to cool down, which is why she is experiencing excessive sweating.

You Have Been Called to a Residence for a Patient