Infants, children, and adolescents are at increased risk for heat-related illness due to their inability to remove themselves from dangerous environments. Evidence shows that morbidity and mortality from heat illness is related to the length of time core temperature is elevated, so rapid reduction and accurate serial measurements are crucial to prevention of organ system damage and death. The primary methods of patient cooling are conduction (ice-water immersion, cold packs) and convection (moisture and moving air). The choice of method used may depend on availability of equipment, but there is evidence that can guide optimal use of resources. This issue presents evidence-based recommendations and best practices in heat-illness resuscitation, including managing children who are obese, have special needs or take medications, and advocacy for prevention strategies.
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Pediatrics
January 2025
Child Population and Translational Health Research, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
Objectives: The burden and health impact of heat stress on child hospitalization is limited. This study aims to investigate associations between extreme heat stress exposure based on a Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), emergency department (ED) visits, and ED visits that translate into unplanned hospital admissions.
Methods: This population-based case-crossover study included all ED visits and unplanned hospital admissions among children and adolescents aged 0 to 18 years from New South Wales, Australia, from July 2001 to June 2020.
ACS Omega
December 2024
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia.
Exposure to high temperatures during indoor and outdoor activities increases the risk of heat-related illness such as cramps, rashes, and heatstroke (HS). Fatal cases of HS are ten times more common than serious cardiac episodes in sporting scenarios, with untreated cases leading to mortality rates as high as 80%. Enhancing thermal comfort can be achieved through heat loss in enclosed spaces and the human body, utilizing heat transfer mechanisms such as radiation, conduction, convection, and evaporation, which do not require initial energy input.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAm J Ind Med
December 2024
Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Background: While construction workers have the second highest rate of heat-related mortality, less is known about the prevelance of heat-related illness (HRI) symptoms, dehydration and kidney dysfunction. The aim of this study was to conduct a biomedical field-based study with construction workers to characterize HRI symptoms, dehydration, and kidney dysfunction, and analyze relationships between post-work urine specific gravity (USG) percentiles and predictors such as work hours, water consumption, and sugary beverage consumption.
Methods: In collaboration with the Farmworker Association of Florida, 58 construction workers in Central Florida were monitored pre- and post-work shift on one workday.
Int J Public Health
December 2024
Division of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Preventive Medicine Baden-Württemberg, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
Objectives: Climate change is increasing the risk of heat-related illness in outdoor sports. Coaches have a responsibility to protect the athletes in their care. In this study, the knowledge and practice of German coaches in heat prevention were evaluated nationwide.
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December 2024
Division of Occupational, Environmental, and Climate Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Background: Firefighters have a higher rate of heat-related illness (HRI) compared to other occupations. Given the changing climate, firefighters' risk of occupational HRI merits attention. Therefore, we aimed to identify demographic, temporal, and geographic risk factors associated with occupational HRI in California firefighters between 2001 and 2020.
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