What is the order of care for a nontrauma patient with hot skin that is moist or dry?

The correct sequence for caring for a nontrauma patient exhibiting hot, moist, or dry skin involves prioritizing the airway first, followed by breathing, circulation, and then cooling.

Beginning with the airway is essential because any alteration in a patient’s conscious state can compromise their ability to maintain an open airway. Assuring an unobstructed airway is critical to ensuring adequate oxygenation and ventilation. Once the airway is secured, the next step is to assess and provide adequate breathing support. Following breathing, checking the circulation (assessing pulse and blood pressure) is vital to identify any potential issues with the patient’s cardiovascular status. Addressing cooling at the end is appropriate because once the primary life-support functions are stable, attention can turn to treating hyperthermia or heat stress. Cooling is an important aspect of treatment to manage the patient's overheating condition but should not come before securing the airway and ensuring effective breathing and circulation, which can be life-threatening.

This methodical approach ensures that life-threatening conditions are addressed in the order of priority, ultimately improving the patient's chances of recovery in a safe and effective manner.