Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management
Published on: November 21, 2017
Exertional Heat Injury: Effects of Adding Cold (4°C) Intravenous Saline to Prehospital Protocol
Gordon Mok1, David DeGroot, Nathanael E Hathaway
11CPT, U.S. Army Health Clinic Hohenfels, Hohenfels, Bavaria, Germany; 2MAJ, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI 96859; 3MAJ, 173rd IBCT(A) Brigade, Vincenza, Italy; 4LTC, DiLorenzo TRICARE Health Clinic, Washington, DC; and 5MAJ, Martin Army Community Hospital, Ft. Benning, GA.
Abstract:
This article reviews current prehospital treatment for heat casualties and introduces a retrospective study on the addition of cold (4 °C) intravenous (IV) saline to prehospital treatment and its effect on morbidity. The study is a retrospective cohort reviewing electronic medical records of 290 heat casualties admitted to Martin Army Community Hospital, Ft. Benning, GA, comparing two treatment groups; U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (ice-sheeting and ambient temperature IV saline) versus Benning (ice-sheeting and cold IV saline). U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command group significantly differed from Benning group on a number of measures, the median length of stay in the hospital was 3 and 2 d, respectively (P < 0.0001); pCr were 1.8 to 1.4 mg·dL, respectively (difference of 0.4 mg·dL pCr, P < 0.0001). However, creatine phosphokinase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase were not significantly different across groups. Findings demonstrate that adding cold IV saline to ice-sheeting as a protocol reduces the length of hospitalization of heat casualties and lowers their peak creatinine values.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Methods of reducing fever
Pharmacological Methods of Reducing Fever:
Decreased Body Temperature
Increased Body Temperature
Factors Affecting Body Temperature
Factors may include:
Responses to Heat and Cold Stress
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation IV: Pharmacological Management

