Heat Injuries (Continued)

As promised, this post will include several additional sources of information. One presentation is from Dr. Max Bursey from a previous Heat Conference. Use these slides to reference the latest proposed definitions and solutions. This one may be helpful to use for your hot weather training as it was originally designed for a large audience and it is fairly comprehensive.

I also have a hip pocket training PowerPoint below that I made awhile back. I’ve presented it several times to medics for hot weather training and it seems to work well. It’s a mix of slides from a lot of different sources. I admit that I have not yet taken the time to improve it visually. I’m trying to push out info on this site hastily while working around my actual job. Once I get more content on this site, I will go back and revise the PowerPoint for you guys. I chose to include this one also, though, because I think it will be helpful to explain some of the concepts. I include it below with a narrated version from me, as well as the raw version if you wish to use those slides to jazz it up a bit.

One of the biggest culture change issues that the docs at Fort Benning are trying to drive: “Drinking adequate water doesn’t necessarily prevent heat injuries.” That’s a tough point to sell. But we have to convince the masses that hyponatremia is also a threat. Appropriate hydration is good. Heat mitigation by way of proper preparation and heat dumping strategies should also be a part of the conversation. Informed medics can be excellent advisors to their leaders.

DRIP DROP (link goes to Amazon) can also be a useful way to prevent hyponatremia as well as dehydration. It is discussed more in the next post.

Feel free to reach out to me if these presentations don’t convince you. I’m willing to engage in a dialogue with you or even present more information here.

RAPID COOLING IS THE TREATMENT FOR HEAT ILLNESS

Ice Immersion Tank for Rapid Cooling

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE FINAL HEAT INJURY POST IN THE SERIES

---

All content is intended to be educational only. Medics should operate under the supervision of a medical provider and abide by all local laws while stateside. Medics should only practice at the level credentialed, and only at the level allowed. This content is not intended to treat or give a substitution for any credentialed provider. Content is intended to aid in a deployed prolonged care setting. Take guidance from your leaders. Utilize these posts as preparation and as a supplement to your provider’s direction and teaching.

This content is the author’s opinion alone and does not necessarily reflect the opinion, official position, or stance of the Department of Defense, or any other branch of the United States Military.