What is it about?
This case study examined the practical application of the ice towel method as part of the first aid response to a suspected occupational heat stroke case. The organisation in which the case transpired has large numbers of workers operating in field locations that are away from immediate medical assistance. Any cooling modalities implemented as part of the first aid response in this environment need to be easily transportable, cost effective and able to be implemented by a single worker. The case study describes an organisation’s experience from identifying the risk associated with heat stroke, assessing the evidence, integrating the ice towel method as part of the organisations first aid response, and its application in a field-based emergency.
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Why is it important?
Heat stroke is an occupational health and safety risk that is expected to worsen. In many industrial settings workers may be required to operate on sites that are not near immediate medical assistance. In the event of a heat stroke case, this potential for treatment delay means survival may depend on co-workers provision of effective first aid, inclusive of cooling, while medical assistance is en route. This requires organisations with remote workers to carefully consider if their employees are prepared to deal with such an emergency, and if they have suitable resources available.
Perspectives
Our case study is a reminder of the need for organisations to carefully consider heat as a hazard, and what controls they have in place to mitigate that hazard. It is also imperative that controls are suitable for the industrial environment in which they are being implemented. This case highlights an organisation that considered both the scientific evidence base, along with the industrial challenges, to select a control that would best suit the specific working environment. Hopefully, this case study raises awareness of the dangers of heat stroke in industrial settings and stimulates conversations within other organisations regarding how prepared they are to deal with a similar situation.
Dr Shane Rogerson
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Suspected exertional heat stroke; A case study of worker cooling in a hot and humid field environment, WORK A Journal of Prevention Assessment & Rehabilitation, July 2024, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.3233/wor-240060.
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