You are en route to the hospital with a patient who is unresponsive and has hot, dry skin. His friends state that he has been drinking and passed out in the hot sun for several hours before 911 was called. An Emergency Medical Responder is ventilating the patient with a bag-valve mask attached to high-concentration oxygen. Which one of the following actions would be most beneficial to the patient at this time?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Placing cold packs to the patient's groin and armpits is the most beneficial action in this scenario. This is because the patient is exhibiting signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, which can lead to organ damage and even death. Cooling the patient down is crucial, and applying cold packs to these areas can help reduce their core body temperature. The other options, such as inducing vomiting or pouring cold water over the patient, may cause further harm or discomfort.

You Are En Route to the Hospital with a Patient