Which of the following is a sign of heat exhaustion?

• A. Nausea
• B. Tingling of hands and feet
• C. Excessive sweating with pale, moist, cool skin
• D. Chills

Answer: (C)

Recognizing signs of heat exhaustion means focusing on what the body is doing to cool itself when overheated. The most indicative sign is excessive sweating with pale, moist, cool skin. This combination shows the body is actively trying to shed heat through sweating, and the skin remains moist and cool to the touch, which is typical in heat-exhaustion scenarios before overheating progresses to more severe heat illness.

Nausea can occur with heat-related illness, but it isn’t as specific to the cooling response as the pale, cool, sweaty skin is. Tingling of the hands and feet isn’t a typical hallmark of heat exhaustion, and chills are more associated with cold exposure or fever, not the overheating process. If you see heavy sweating with cool, moist skin, it points to heat exhaustion rather than the other signs listed.

If this sign is observed, move the person to a cooler area, loosen restrictive clothing, and offer water. Monitor for worsening symptoms such as fainting, confusion, or vomiting, and seek medical help if symptoms don’t improve or worsen.