In which heat emergency should you apply cool packs to the neck groin and armpits?

Either heat stroke (the more serious condition) or heat exhaustion (potentially a precursor to heat stroke) may be treated with cool packs.

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Heat exhaustion (aka heat stress) is hyperthermia (overheating) brought on by dehydration (excessive water loss). It can be initiated by hot environmental temperatures, or limited fluids, or inadequate salt intake.

Treatment for heat exhaustion includes:

• moving the victim to cooler, shaded location
• loosen/remove clothing
• apply ice packs: neck, groin, armpits
• drink 1-2 quarts of fluids

Contraindicated are old treatments which included alcohol bath/rub and administering salt tablets.