What is the first intervention when you have a hyperthermic patient?

The first intervention for a hyperthermic patient is to remove clothing. This step is critical because it allows for better heat dissipation from the body. When a person is hyperthermic, their body temperature is elevated, and reducing the amount of clothing can help facilitate cooling through convection and evaporation.

In a hyperthermic situation, the body's ability to cool itself is compromised, so removing clothing can enhance air circulation around the skin and increase the efficiency of any cooling measures that follow. Once clothing is removed, other interventions such as applying ice packs, administering fluids, or transporting the patient to a medical facility can be implemented as part of a comprehensive treatment strategy. However, the priority is to allow the body's natural cooling mechanisms to have the best chance at restoring normal temperature as quickly as possible.