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Exertional heat stroke cardiac arrest — DipIMC MCQ

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HardResuscitationExertional heat stroke cardiac arrestDipIMC

A 57-year-old man collapses during a marathon. He is pulseless, the monitor shows VF and his core temperature is 41°C. What is the most appropriate management?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: B — Defibrillate according to ALS and begin active cooling during resuscitation

Heat stroke cardiac arrest requires standard ALS plus rapid active cooling. Defibrillation should not be withheld for hyperthermia. Blankets worsen heat load, and oral fluids are unsafe during arrest. The pearl is that environmental physiology can be a reversible cause, but ALS fundamentals still apply.

Reference: Resuscitation Council UK Special Circumstances Guidelines 2025; JRCALC Guidelines 2025