In heat-related illness, which skin finding is most consistent with heat exhaustion rather than heat stroke?

• A. cool, clammy skin
• B. hot, dry skin
• C. pale, flushed skin
• D. cold, pale skin

Answer: (A)

The key idea is distinguishing heat exhaustion from heat stroke by how the skin responds. In heat exhaustion, the body's cooling mechanisms are still working, so you’ll often see sweating with skin that feels cool and clammy due to evaporation and ongoing vasodilation from dehydration. In contrast, heat stroke reflects a failure of thermoregulation, so the skin tends to be hot and dry as the body loses its ability to sweat effectively. Among the given signs, cool, clammy skin best fits heat exhaustion, because it signals active sweating and cooler surface temperature rather than the hot, dry skin seen with heat stroke.