Emergencies and resuscitation

How to treat heat stroke

Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.

MD / DOPANursing (NCLEX)EMS (NREMT)
Practice it in VR with Blocky

Heat stroke is a cooling emergency. Cool first, transport second.

Step by step

  1. Recognize

    Core temperature above about 40 °C (104 °F) with confusion or collapse. [1]

  2. Cool now

    Cold water immersion is best; otherwise ice packs, wet and fan. [1]

  3. Airway and oxygen

    Recovery position if needed. [1]

  4. Monitor

    Temperature often; stop at about 38.9 °C (102 °F) to avoid overcooling. [1]

  5. Fluids

    IV per protocol. [1]

  6. Transport

    After cooling has started. [1]

Common errors

Practice it in VMS

In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.

VMS cases that train this skill

Sources

  1. NASEMSO National Model EMS Clinical Guidelines
  2. NREMT psychomotor skill sheets (EMT and Paramedic)

Facts and steps follow NASEMSO National Model EMS Clinical Guidelines; NREMT psychomotor skill sheets (EMT and Paramedic). VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.