Return to Duty Following Exertional Heat Stroke: A Review

CONCLUSIONS: EHS has a high morbidity and mortality rate if not treated rapidly. Because the extent of end-organ damage is dependent on the amount of time that the individual is hyperthermic, rapid diagnosis via rectal thermometry, and efficient cooling methods are imperative to the wellbeing of EHS patients. Following EHS, gradual RTD recommendations within the limits of operational demand should be implemented to reduce the risk for a subsequent heat injury event. While many versions of HTT, most notably the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) protocol, have been created to guide RTD recommendations, a universal assessment for heat tolerance has yet to be adopted. As such, medical personnel should apply a multifactorial approach to ensure safe RTD.PMID:37776525 | DOI:10.1093/milmed/usad388

Source: Military Medicine - September 30, 2023 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Caitlyn J Koo Courtney Hintz Cody R Butler Source Type: research