Which of the following is true about heat injury symptoms?

• A. Hot, dry skin is a sign of heat stroke
• B. Sweating is always absent in heat cramps
• C. Cold sweating indicates heat stroke
• D. Heat stroke always occurs with fever

Answer: (A)

When exploring heat-related illness, the key clue is how the skin and sweating reflect the body’s ability to cool itself. Heat stroke happens when the body’s cooling mechanisms fail and the temperature rises rapidly; sweating may stop, leaving the skin hot and dry. That dry, overheated skin is a classic sign indicating a severe emergency requiring immediate cooling and medical attention.

Sweating being absent in heat cramps isn’t a reliable rule because cramps come from dehydration and electrolyte imbalance with ongoing sweating. Cold sweating isn’t a dependable indicator for heat stroke, and heat stroke doesn’t require fever—it's about hyperthermia, not infection. The presence or absence of fever isn’t the defining feature.