Heat stroke cooling method and target — clinical viva

Diagnosis. Exertional heatstroke: a core temperature above 40 °C with central nervous system dysfunction during strenuous exercise.^[11]

Definitive cooling. Ice-water or cold-water immersion has the fastest cooling rates; when immersion is not possible, continual dousing with fanning is an alternative.^[13] In 274 race patients, immediate on-site immersion cooled at 0.22 °C per minute with 100 per cent survival.^[15] Aim for a core temperature below 39 °C within 30 minutes.^[14]

What to avoid. Antipyretics, dantrolene and NSAIDs are not recommended.^[14]

After cooling. Patients generally require hospitalisation to monitor for complications, and should refrain from physical activity for at least seven days after release from care.^[12]