Citation

Giesbrecht GG, Walpoth BH. Wilderness Environ. Med. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Emeritus, Service of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.wem.2019.06.005

PMID

31575480

Abstract

This article describes 3 incidents in which therapeutic or experimental warming of cold individuals caused first- to third-degree burns to the skin. Mechanisms for these injuries are considered. We conclude that active external rewarming of the trunk of a cold patient in the field can be administered safely and burn risk reduced if 1) manufacturer instructions are followed; 2) insulation is placed between the skin the and heat source; and 3) caregivers make regular efforts to observe heated skin for possible pending burn injury. Direct inspection is mandatory for the skin of areas that are on top of a heat source when the patient is lying on the heat source.

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Language: en

Keywords

afterdrop; circumrescue collapse; pressure insults; regional blood flow; skin blood flow; wilderness medicine