To treat heat exposure, immersing the victim in cold water is recommended.

• A. Never
• B. Sometimes
• C. True
• D. False

Answer: (D)

Cooling the body quickly is essential when someone is suffering from heat illness, but plunging them into cold water is not a universal or always recommended method. Immersion can be risky in many situations, potentially causing shock, heart rhythm problems, or further complications if not done under proper supervision and with the right equipment. The safer, widely advised approach is to move the person to a cooler environment, remove excess clothing, apply cool water to the skin or use cool, damp cloths, use a fan to promote evaporation, and give fluids if they are conscious and able to swallow.

In certain controlled settings, such as with trained responders during exertional heat stroke, rapid cooling with cold-water immersion may be used to rapidly lower core temperature. But for general heat exposure, immersion is not the standard recommendation.