Suspected exertional heat stroke; A case study of worker cooling in a hot and humid field environment.

BACKGROUND:In the event of a severe occupational heat-related illness, paramedic assistance may not be immediately available. A worker's survival may depend on their co-workers access to efficacious field-based cooling modalities. One cooling method that has been claimed to be practical in field-based settings is the ice towel method. OBJECTIVES:This case study assessed the practicality of the ice towel method in an industrial setting, where criteria for use include cost effectiveness, portability, scalability, and implementation by a single worker under the stress of an emergency. METHODS:This case study describes the emergency application of the ice towel method while awaiting paramedics, for a worker suffering suspected exertional heat stroke on a remote job site. RESULTS:Ice towels were able to be transported to a remote field site and applied successfully by a single worker under the stress of a potentially life-threatening emergency. CONCLUSIONS:The ice towel method was cost effective, scalable, transportable, and rapidly applied in a field-based emergency. This case study demonstrates the importance of organizations assessing their heat-related risks, and determining controls based upon their efficacy and practicality for their unique setting.