Human Responses to 5 Heated Hypothermia Wrap Systems in a Cold Environment

We compared the effectiveness of 5 heated hypothermia wrap systems.

Physiologic and subjective responses were determined in 5 normothermic subjects (1 female) for 5 heated hypothermia wraps (with vapor barrier and chemical heat sources) during 60 min of exposure to a temperature of -22°C. The 5 systems were 1) user-assembled; 2) Doctor Down Rescue Wrap; 3) hypothermia prevention and management kit (HPMK); 4) MARSARS Hypothermia Stabilizer Bag; and 5) Wiggy's Victims Casualty Hypothermia Bag. Core and skin temperature, metabolic heat production, skin heat loss, and body net heat gain were determined. Subjective responses were also evaluated for whole body cold discomfort, overall shivering rating, overall temperature rating, and preferential ranking.

The Doctor Down and user-assembled systems were generally more effective, with higher skin temperatures and lower metabolic heat production; they allowed less heat loss, resulting in higher net heat gain (P<0.05). HPMK had the lowest skin temperature and highest shivering heat production and scored worse than the other 4 systems for the "whole body cold discomfort" and "overall temperature" ratings (P<0.05).

The user-assembled and Doctor Down systems were most effective, and subjects were coldest with the HPMK system. However, it is likely that any of the tested systems would be viable options for wilderness responders, and the choice would depend on considerations of cost; volume, as it relates to available space; and weight, as it relates to ability to carry or transport the system to the patient.