EMS METHODS TO COOL A PATIENT IN THE FIELD

Course overview

HYPERTHERMIA IS DEFINED AS A BODY TEMPERATURE GREATER THAN 40 DEGREES C. SEVERAL CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE HYPERTHERMIA. IN SEPSIS, THE IMMUNOLOGIC REACTION TO THE INFECTION MOST OFTEN MANIFESTS AS A FEVER. SOME TOXIC INGESTIONS AND WITHDRAWAL STATES CAN CAUSE ELEVATED BODY TEMPERATURE. CERTAIN MEDICATIONS CAN CAUSE A HYPERTHERMIC RESPONSE, SUCH AS IN NEUROLEPTIC MALIGNANT SYNDROME. THE MOST COMMON DISEASE THAT TREATABLE BY COOLING ALONE IS HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS AND HEAT STROKE. THIS ACTIVITY ILLUSTRATES THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF HYPERTHERMIA AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THESE PATIENTS.