What is a crucial step in the treatment for all heat-related injuries?

Eliminating exposure is a crucial step in the treatment of all heat-related injuries because it directly addresses the primary cause of the injury — excessive heat. Once a person is experiencing heat-related distress, removing them from the source of heat is vital to prevent further deterioration of their condition. This could mean relocating the individual to a cooler environment, providing shade, or moving them indoors.

Without eliminating exposure to heat, any other treatment may only provide temporary relief and could fail to prevent serious complications like heat exhaustion or heat stroke. By ensuring that the individual is no longer subjected to high temperatures, the body has a better chance of recovering from heat-related stress, allowing the subsequent steps in treatment, such as rehydration and cooling, to be more effective.