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Sports Medicine
Published in: Sports Medicine 8/2004

01-07-2004 | Review Article

Heat Stroke

A Review of Cooling Methods

Authors: Eran Hadad, Moshe Rav-Acha, Yuval Heled, Prof. Yoram Epstein, Daniel S. Moran

Published in: Sports Medicine | Issue 8/2004

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Abstract

The prognosis of heat stroke in patients is directly related to the degree of hyperthermia and its duration. Therefore, the most important feature in the treatment of heat stroke is rapid cooling. Several cooling methods have been presented in the literature including immersion in water at different temperatures, evaporative cooling, ice pack application, pharmacological treatment and invasive techniques. This article describes the various cooling techniques in terms of efficacy, availability, adverse effects and mortality rate. Data suggest that cooling should be initiated immediately at time of collapse and should be based on feasible field measures including ice or tepid water (1–16°C), which are readily available. In the emergency department, management should be matched to the patient’s age and medical background and include immersion in ice water (1–5°C) or evaporative cooling.
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Metadata
Title
Heat Stroke
A Review of Cooling Methods
Authors
Eran Hadad
Moshe Rav-Acha
Yuval Heled
Prof. Yoram Epstein
Daniel S. Moran
Publication date
01-07-2004
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Sports Medicine / Issue 8/2004
Print ISSN: 0112-1642
Electronic ISSN: 1179-2035
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200434080-00002