How should you respond to someone experiencing heat stroke?

The appropriate response to someone experiencing heat stroke is to move them to a cooler place and cover them with wet cloths or ice packs. This intervention is crucial because heat stroke is a severe condition where the body's temperature regulation fails, leading to a dangerously high core body temperature, which can result in serious complications or even death if not treated promptly.

By relocating the person to a shaded or air-conditioned area, you help lower their body temperature more effectively. Applying wet cloths or ice packs to key areas, such as the neck, armpits, and groin, facilitates cooling through conduction and evaporation, which can significantly help in reducing their overall body temperature.

The other options do not provide the necessary immediate care for someone in this critical state. Leaving someone in direct sunlight exacerbates the situation, while giving them ice to eat might not be effective because their body temperature needs to be lowered externally, and they may be unable to swallow safely. Encouraging them to drink very cold drinks may not be appropriate if they are unable to properly ingest fluids due to symptoms like altered consciousness or nausea that often accompany heat stroke.