What is the mainstay treatment for a heat stroke patient?

The mainstay treatment for heat stroke is an ice bath. This method is highly effective because it provides rapid and aggressive cooling to lower the body's core temperature, which is critical in preventing organ damage and improving outcomes in heat stroke patients. The mechanism is straightforward: immersing the patient in an ice bath allows for significant heat exchange, enhancing the removal of excess body heat more efficiently than other cooling methods.

Intravenous hydration plays an important role in the supportive care of heat stroke patients, addressing potential dehydration and maintaining fluid status, but it does not directly target the core body temperature like an ice bath does. Antipyretics are not beneficial in heat stroke since the hyperthermia is not due to infection but rather due to environmental factors and the body's inability to dissipate heat. Cooling blankets, while helpful, are typically less effective than ice baths in achieving the rapid core temperature reduction necessary for managing severe heat stroke.