Which method is used to cool a casualty during heat injury treatment?

Which method is used to cool a casualty during heat injury treatment?

• A. Stand in the sun
• B. Apply ice to the head
• C. Spray or pour water on them
• D. Feed hot drink

Answer: (C)

Cooling a casualty during heat injury treatment relies on rapid removal of heat from the body by using water on the skin. Spraying or pouring cool water over them promotes cooling through evaporation, especially when you increase airflow with a fan or by moving air over the skin. Removing excess clothing helps expose more skin to the cooling effect, speeding the temperature drop and reducing the risk of progression to a more serious condition. Standing in the sun or exposing them to heat worsens the problem, while a hot drink would add heat to the body. Applying ice to the head is not as effective for large-area cooling and can be uncomfortable or distracting from whole-body cooling.

Cooling a casualty during heat injury treatment relies on rapid removal of heat from the body by using water on the skin. Spraying or pouring cool water over them promotes cooling through evaporation, especially when you increase airflow with a fan or by moving air over the skin. Removing excess clothing helps expose more skin to the cooling effect, speeding the temperature drop and reducing the risk of progression to a more serious condition. Standing in the sun or exposing them to heat worsens the problem, while a hot drink would add heat to the body. Applying ice to the head is not as effective for large-area cooling and can be uncomfortable or distracting from whole-body cooling.