Which treatment is specifically recommended for heat stroke?

The recommended treatment for heat stroke is cool (not icy) water immersion. This method effectively lowers the body temperature in a controlled manner, which is essential for managing heat stroke—a severe condition that occurs when the body overheats, often due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures or strenuous exercise in the heat.

Immersion in cool water helps facilitate the dissipation of heat more rapidly than other methods. It allows for efficient and gradual cooling without the risk of hypothermia that can occur with the application of ice directly to the skin or in icy water, which can lead to rapid vasoconstriction and impede further heat loss.

Using heavy clothing or heat packs would exacerbate the condition, trapping heat and increasing the core body temperature further. Similarly, ice packs can cause localized cooling that may not effectively lower overall body temperature and could lead to skin and tissue damage if left in contact too long. Therefore, cool (not icy) water immersion is the most effective and recommended treatment for someone experiencing heat stroke.