What should be avoided when treating a patient with heat exhaustion?

When treating a patient with heat exhaustion, it's important to focus on rehydration and cooling the body effectively. Caffeinated beverages should be avoided because they can act as diuretics, potentially exacerbating dehydration rather than alleviating it. Additionally, caffeine can elevate heart rate and potentially worsen heat-related symptoms, which is counterproductive when addressing heat exhaustion.

In contrast, providing fluids with electrolytes or plain water, using fans or cool towels for cooling, and moving the patient to a cooler environment are all critical steps in treatment. These methods help restore hydration, lower body temperature, and reduce the risk of progression to heat stroke, thus promoting recovery.