Body cooling as a method for reducing hyperthermia. An evaluation of techniques.

The most important objective in the treatment of heatstroke and related conditions is to reduce the body core temperature to safe levels. Subjects performed at an external work rate of 54 W in hot, humid conditions (dry-bulb 40 degrees C, wet-bulb 35 degrees C), and a recent innovation to achieve body cooling, i.e. strategically placing instant cold packs (ICPs) (Coldpak; Medac) over the large vessels of the neck, axillae and groin, was evaluated under controlled laboratory conditions. We found that this procedure was not significantly more effective (P greater than 0.5) than passive body cooling in bringing about a 2 degrees C reduction in rectal temperature. Moreover, covering the whole body with ICPs plus induced evaporative cooling produced higher cooling rates than those achieved by the strategic placement of ICPs (0.0340 degrees C/min and 0.0344 degrees C/min respectively) (P less than 0.01).