What is the consequence of not cooling aggressively in exertional heat stroke?

• A. Dehydration only
• B. Faster recovery
• C. No effect
• D. Increased risk of CNS injury and death

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that rapid cooling is essential to limit brain and organ damage during exertional heat stroke. When cooling isn’t aggressive and the core temperature stays extremely high, the brain is exposed to heat injury that can lead to confusion, seizures, coma, and ultimately death. Prolonged hyperthermia also drives systemic problems like inflammatory responses and multi-organ failure. By cooling quickly, you reduce the core temperature fast enough to protect brain tissue and other organs, improving survival chances. Dehydration, while a concern in heat illness, is not the primary consequence here, and claiming there’s no effect or that recovery would be faster contradicts the proven importance of prompt cooling.