What is a recommended treatment for heat exhaustion?

Encouraging rest and hydration with electrolytes is the recommended treatment for heat exhaustion because it addresses the core issues associated with this condition—dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. In heat exhaustion, the body loses significant amounts of water and essential salts due to excessive sweating, which can lead to symptoms like weakness, dizziness, nausea, and fatigue.

Promoting rest allows the body to recover from the stress of heat exposure, while hydration, especially with electrolyte solutions, helps restore lost fluids and balance sodium and potassium levels. This dual approach helps alleviate symptoms and can prevent the condition from progressing to heat stroke, which is more severe and requires immediate medical attention.

The other choices may not be appropriate interventions for heat exhaustion. Wrapping the patient in wet towels could potentially cool the body too quickly or lead to additional moisture retention, which may not provide the most effective relief. Administering caffeine is counterproductive, as caffeine can have a diuretic effect and may exacerbate dehydration. While urgent transport to a hospital may be necessary in severe cases or for patients exhibiting signs of heat stroke, it is not typically required for mild heat exhaustion when these first-aid measures can be effectively implemented. Thus, option B is the most suitable and actionable response to treat heat exhaustion