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Heatstroke during exercise events – Implementation of ice baths
21 October 2019
A heatstroke is a very dangerous condition, typically occurring in young, healthy and physical fit individuals, during which an athlete can collapse and even die due to organ failure. The key principle in the treatment of heatstroke patients is cool first, transport second. Moreover, it is very important to cool an individual suffering from a heatstroke as fast as possible, in order to reduce/avoid permanent damage and decrease the mortality rate.
In recent years, a number of athletes participating in exercise events in the Netherlands died as a consequence of a heatstroke. Reason for us to investigate the effectiveness of a cooling intervention as a treatment for heatstroke and to create awareness among healthcare personnel and athletes about the hazards of a high core body temperature. Together with the Red Cross and organizations of big exercise events (i.e. le Champion and Golazo), we started pilot measurement this September, in which we implemented ice baths (water temperature: ~5°C) in the finish area of exercise events.
At the moment the ice baths have been used during four exercise events (Tilburg Ten Miles, Dam tot Damloop, Eindhoven Marathon and the Amsterdam Marathon), and the relevance of the treatment has been demonstrated already. During these events numerous cases have been presented to the medical services, with dangerously high core body temperatures (>42°C) and neurological signs (i.e. odd behavior, confusion, irritability, delirium). Treatment using an ice bath was really effective, and after 10 to 15 minutes of cooling, core body temperature was <39°C and the patient could be transported to the hospital for additional care. Interestingly to note, heatstroke not only occurs during exercise events in strenuous environmental conditions with high ambient temperatures, it also occurred at lower ambient temperatures (<15°C) such as during the Amsterdam Marathon.
Therefore, early diagnosis of heatstroke and applying a sufficient treatment using an ice bath is of great importance and can save an athlete’s life!
A heatstroke is a very dangerous condition, typically occurring in young, healthy and physical fit individuals, during which an athlete can collapse and even die due to organ failure. The key principle in the treatment of heatstroke patients is cool first, transport second. Moreover, it is very important to cool an individual suffering from a heatstroke as fast as possible, in order to reduce/avoid permanent damage and decrease the mortality rate.
In recent years, a number of athletes participating in exercise events in the Netherlands died as a consequence of a heatstroke. Reason for us to investigate the effectiveness of a cooling intervention as a treatment for heatstroke and to create awareness among healthcare personnel and athletes about the hazards of a high core body temperature. Together with the Red Cross and organizations of big exercise events (i.e. le Champion and Golazo), we started pilot measurement this September, in which we implemented ice baths (water temperature: ~5°C) in the finish area of exercise events.
At the moment the ice baths have been used during four exercise events (Tilburg Ten Miles, Dam tot Damloop, Eindhoven Marathon and the Amsterdam Marathon), and the relevance of the treatment has been demonstrated already. During these events numerous cases have been presented to the medical services, with dangerously high core body temperatures (>42°C) and neurological signs (i.e. odd behavior, confusion, irritability, delirium). Treatment using an ice bath was really effective, and after 10 to 15 minutes of cooling, core body temperature was <39°C and the patient could be transported to the hospital for additional care. Interestingly to note, heatstroke not only occurs during exercise events in strenuous environmental conditions with high ambient temperatures, it also occurred at lower ambient temperatures (<15°C) such as during the Amsterdam Marathon.
Therefore, early diagnosis of heatstroke and applying a sufficient treatment using an ice bath is of great importance and can save an athlete’s life!
