Phoenix using ice immersion to treat heat stroke victims as Southwest bakes in triple digits

NY Post ^ | 06/05/2024 | AP

[ChicagoConservative27]

The season’s first heat wave is already baking the Southwest with triple-digit temperatures as firefighters in Phoenix — America’s hottest big city — employ new tactics in hopes of saving more lives in a county that saw 645 heat-related deaths last year.

Starting this season, the Phoenix Fire Department is immersing heatstroke victims in ice on the way to area hospitals.

The medical technique, known as cold water immersion, is familiar to marathon runners and military service members and has also recently been adopted by Phoenix hospitals as a go-to protocol, said Fire Capt. John Prato.

Prato demonstrated the method earlier this week outside the emergency department of Valleywise Health Medical Center in Phoenix, packing ice cubes inside an impermeable blue bag around a medical dummy representing a patient.

[riri]

I work from home and I jump in the pool throughout the day. I keep my "air" at 85 when no one is here. I'd much rather be hot than cold. I spent my first 24 years of life, freezing my a$$ off in NY, joking I was gonna live in the desert. First five minutes, I drove through the desert SW, I knew I was never gonna leave.

I might be part reptilian. (:

[woodbutcher1963]

Did his pool have a bubbler in it?

I have a friend who lives there. Their in ground pools have a system to inject air into the water to cool it down. Plus, they have to constantly add water to their pools due to evaporation.

This is totally inverse of having a pool here in NH. I had an in ground pool at my former house. I kept a solar cover on the pool whenever we were not using it to keep the heat in. Evaporation also was not a big problem because our summers tend to be more humid.

[curious7]

I wonder if pickle juice would be an improvement?

[dfwgator]

I wonder if pickle juice would be an improvement?

---

Worked for Andy Reid and the Eagles when they played the Cowboys here.

[HartleyMBaldwin]

Summer is hot, but not stifling due to the lack of humidity.

Until monsoon season rolls around.

[Bob434]

I never had luck with that- what does seem to work well for me is tonic water with quinine in it. Seems to stave off the cramps if I start getting them. But sometimes nothing seems to work depending on how bad I’ve overdone it in the heat

[Bob434]

Lol I’m just the opposite, although when I was fit, I didn’t mind the heat- but now I have a condition where “heat and cold intolerance” is the norm- I used to work outside in -35 on rooftops with the wind howling, and be fine- now I can get cold in summer when everyone else is sweltering, and can overheat when others are cold- its weird.

[LS]

Psst. I’m here in Chandler.

It’s ALWAYS “triple digits” in June.

[desertsolitaire]

I have heard of people working in very warm factories all day then coming home and drinking clod beverages and cardiac arresting. FWIW.

[ridesthemiles]

I HAVE NEVER OWNED AN AIR CONDITIONED HOME—HAVE HAD 3.

NOW LIVE IN N NEVADA HIGH DESERT-—4200’ altitude-—ceiling fans & open windows.

[Dr. Sivana]

Or work outside, or hike, or play in the yard.

If you hike, that is assumption of the risk. If you play in the yard, you have a drink and/or go inside. Common sense is a prerequisite for living in any extreme climate.

[Dr. Sivana]

NOW LIVE IN N NEVADA HIGH DESERT-—4200’ altitude-—ceiling fans & open windows.

Phoenix is a valley, so our experiences are different. You are also a bit north of us. My wife would love for us to be able to live at high altitude. Swamp Coolers are also an in-between remedy.

[discostu]

Except of sometimes things distract you. Part of the problem with how dry it is out here is how quickly sweat evaporates. We’re kind of coded to think “I’m sweating so it’s hot, I’m not sweating so I’m OK” when in reality if you’re not sweating it could be a very bad sign.

I’ve been here since ‘75. The weather for much of the year is actively trying to kill you. And it’s easy to forget. And easy to get in trouble. Cause you don’t have to forget for long. If that 20 minute thing you wanted to do in the yard takes an hour and you’re engrossed and not noticing you could be in trouble.

Really if you work the math it all makes sense. There’s 4.5 million people in Maricopa county. 650 deaths a year isn’t actually that much, unless they’re friends of yours.

[Mr Rogers]

“Try staying outdoors in that heat for a while doing things people normally do outside.”

South of Tucson here. Not AS hot as Phoenix but I spend a lot of time outdoors, to include jogging during the afternoon.

OTOH, would NOT want to be a roofer in Phoenix!

[Dr. Sivana]

OTOH, would NOT want to be a roofer in Phoenix!

I don't see roofers during the summer months here. A new subdivision with dozens of houses just got plopped a mile from my house. They did the roofing in March.

[Labyrinthos]

“I went to Nevada and the temperature was over 100 degrees. I barely broke out a sweat because there is no humidity,”

And that’s the danger of a hot, low humidity desert environment. People still sweat, but the sweat evaporates almost immediately, and as a result, they don’t realize they are on the road to dehydration and heat stroke until its too late.

[Islander7]

“...Did his pool have a bubbler in it?...”

I don’t recall. Once we got out of the water, the evaporation rate was crazy fast. I grew up in South Mississippi. Nothing evaporates in the summer months. Too much humidity.

[Zathras]

Yep!
What most people don’t know is 85 temp in Phoenix is really the best temp all year.

[Bob434]

road pavers must have it really bad during summers in really hot places- cant imagine what the heat is coming off the new tar=-

[ansel12]

I’ve lived in the desert off and on equal to about 21 years of my life and currently live in the desert, when it is in the 100s I will do outdoor work for a short period and then switch to indoor for a period.