Cooling Rates of Hyperthermic Humans Wearing American Football Uniforms When Cold-Water Immersion Is Delayed

摘要

Context: Treatment delays can be contributing factors in the deaths of American football athletes from exertional heat stroke. Ideally, clinicians begin cold-water immersion (CWI) to reduce rectal temperature (T-rec) to 38.9 degrees C within 30 minutes of collapse. If delays occur, experts recommend T-rec cooling rates that exceed 0.15 degrees C/min. Whether treatment delays affect CWI cooling rates or perceptual variables when football uniforms are worn is unknown.