Which of the following is a type of heat injury?

Heat cramps are a type of heat injury that occurs in response to prolonged physical exertion in high-temperature environments. These cramps are painful, involuntary muscle contractions that typically happen in the legs, arms, or abdomen. They can arise due to an imbalance of electrolytes, often exacerbated by dehydration, excessive sweating, and insufficient fluid intake.

Understanding heat cramps is crucial for recognizing more severe heat-related conditions, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which can follow if the body continues to be exposed to extreme heat without proper care. Therefore, identifying heat cramps as a specific type of heat injury is essential for ensuring preventive measures are taken to protect individuals, especially those in physically demanding roles such as law enforcement.

Other potential answers do not fit the category of heat injuries. Cold stress relates to low-temperature conditions, dehydration refers to a lack of fluids which can contribute to heat injuries but is not classified as a heat injury itself, and altitude sickness occurs at high elevations, not related to heat.