QAL Laws & Regulation Practice Exam

The reason "extremities are cool to the touch" is identified as not a symptom of heat stress relates to the physiological responses typical under heat stress conditions. When a person experiences heat stress, the body attempts to cool itself through various mechanisms, one of which is vasodilation. This process increases blood flow to the skin, particularly in the extremities, causing them to feel warm or hot rather than cool. In contrast, symptoms like confusion or altered mental states are indeed indicative of heat stress, as elevated body temperatures can affect cognitive function. Heavy sweating is a common response to heat as the body tries to regulate temperature, and a rapid heart rate often occurs as the cardiovascular system responds to increased demands for blood flow and cooling. Therefore, recognizing that extremities tend to become warm, rather than cool, underscores the distinction and highlights the correct answer regarding typical symptoms associated with heat stress.