Question

You are dispatched to a local high school track and field event for a 16-year-old male who fainted. The outside temperature is approximately 95°F (35°C) with high humidity. Upon your arrival, the patient is conscious, alert, and complains of nausea and a headache. His skin is cool, clammy, and pale. You should:

A) give him a liquid salt solution to drink.
B) administer 100% supplemental oxygen.
C) apply chemical ice packs to his axillae.
D) move him into the cooled ambulance.

Answer 1

Heat exhaustion is the likely condition the patient is experiencing. Moving the patient into a cooled ambulance is the appropriate course of action.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the symptoms described, the patient is experiencing heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion is a condition that occurs when the body overheats due to exposure to high temperatures and humidity. Some common symptoms of heat exhaustion include nausea, headache, cool and clammy skin, and pale appearance.

The best course of action in this scenario would be to move the patient into a cooled ambulance to provide relief from the hot environment. The cooling effect of the ambulance will help lower the patient's body temperature and reduce the risk of further complications.