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Heat exhaustion — DipIMC MCQ

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EasyEnvironmental MedicineHeat exhaustionDipIMC

A 64-year-old at a summer festival feels faint and nauseated after several hours in the sun. He is sweaty, alert, normotensive and temperature is 37.8°C. What is the most appropriate management?

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

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Correct answer: A — Move to shade, cool, give oral fluids if safe and reassess

Move to shade, cool, give oral fluids if safe and reassess is the best answer because heat exhaustion without severe hyperthermia or altered mental state can often be managed initially with cooling and fluids. Defer treatment until a senior hospital doctor reviews the patient is less appropriate because pre-hospital clinicians must treat immediate threats within scope; Provide reassurance and reassess after transport is less appropriate because reassurance is inadequate for an evolving major trauma problem. Give unrestricted crystalloid to normalise blood pressure and Use oral analgesia as the main treatment are also suboptimal because they move attention away from the key pre-hospital priority.. The key DipIMC principle is to treat immediate reversible threats, communicate clearly and move the patient toward the right definitive care.

Reference: JRCALC Guidelines; UKHSA Heatwave and Cold Weather Plan