Exertional heat stroke in navy and marine personnel: a hot topic.
Critical Care Nurse · 2015-02-01 · Other / unclear
Abstract
Although exertional heat stroke is considered a preventable condition, this life-threatening emergency affects hundreds of military personnel annually. Because heat stroke is preventable, it is important that Navy critical care nurses rapidly recognize and treat heat stroke casualties. Combined intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors can quickly lead to heat stroke if not recognized by deployed critical care nurses and other first responders. In addition to initial critical care nursing interventions, such as establishing intravenous access, determining body core temperature, and assessing hemodynamic status, aggressive cooling measures should be initiated immediately. The most important determinant in heat stroke outcome is the amount of time that patients sustain hyperthermia. Heat stroke survival approaches 100% when evidence-based cooling guidelines are followed, but mortality from heat stroke is a significant risk when care is delayed. Navy critical care and other military nurses should be aware of targeted assessments and cooling interventions when heat stroke is suspected during military operations.
Abstract © the authors or publisher, via PubMed. Reuse and removal
Tags
Intravenous access · Military & tactical · Temperature management · Time intervals
Related articles
- Exertional Heat Stroke, Modality Cooling Rate, and Survival Outcomes: A Systematic Review. (Medicina (Kaunas), 2020)
- Acute care for exercise-induced hyperthermia to avoid adverse outcome from exertional heat stroke. (J Sport Rehabil, 2011)
- Heart rate variability dynamics during treatment for exertional heat strain when immediate response is not possible. (Exp Physiol, 2019)
- Expert consensus on standardized diagnosis and treatment for heat stroke. (Mil Med Res, 2016)
- An Update on Best Practices for the Prehospital Management of Exertional Heat Illness. (J Spec Oper Med, 2025)
- Effectiveness of cold water immersion for treating exertional heat stress when immediate response is not possible. (Scand J Med Sci Sports, 2015)