Pre-hospital cooling in community-acquired heat stroke (CAHS): evidence, challenges, and strategies.

BACKGROUND

Heat stroke (HS) is a critical medical emergency characterized by severe hyperthermia and central nervous system dysfunction, occurring predominantly in conditions of high ambient temperatures or through physical exertion. With rising global temperatures, the incidence and severity of HS are expected to increase, presenting substantial public health challenges.

OBJECTIVES

This review synthesizes current evidence on cooling methods for HS, addresses challenges in managing community-acquired heat stroke (CAHS), and proposes strategies to enhance pre-hospital and emergency department (ED) care.

METHODS

We evaluated existing literature on cooling strategies, focusing on different subtypes of HS (classic and exertional) and the efficacy of rapid cooling techniques. In addition, we reviewed epidemiological data and proposed a subclassification of HS into supervised and community-acquired heat stroke to better understand healthcare accessibility impacts.

RESULTS

Water, particularly cold water immersion, is recognized as the most effective medium for cooling HS due to its superior thermal properties. Rapid cooling (> 0.15 °C/min) is crucial for survival, significantly reducing case fatality rates and medical complications. Supervised HS, often managed promptly at athletic or military events, shows near-zero fatality rates with immediate cooling. In contrast, CAHS presents unique challenges due to delayed medical intervention and lack of immediate cooling resources. Current strategies to improve CAHS management include public education, dispatcher-guided first aid, and pre-hospital cooling techniques such as internal cooling with cold saline and gastric lavage.

CONCLUSIONS

Effective HS management hinges on rapid cooling, with water immersion being the gold standard. To mitigate the rising burden of HS, particularly in community settings, there is a need for enhanced public awareness, training for emergency responders, and improved pre-hospital equipment. Future strategies should focus on integrating cooling interventions into emergency response protocols and ensuring timely access to cooling resources in both pre-hospital and ED settings.