Citation

Gonzalez RR, Halford C, Keach EM. J. Therm. Biol. 2010; 35(8): 441-449.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jtherbio.2010.09.007

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

1. In this study, we examined by post hoc meta- analysis the likely physiological consequences of environmental stress in a 56-year old, mentally impaired woman who suffered heat stroke after being trapped in an abandoned car on a hot, sunny day in August in a Las Vegas, NV, parking lot. At 1400 h, she entered the car and at 1830 h, after severe exposure to heat stress inside the car, she was found unresponsive to resuscitation. 2. We completed an extensive environmental analysis (air and mean radiant temperatures, humidity) from 1400 h to 1830 h for 16 days in the interior space of an exemplar auto stationed at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. We recorded in this vehicle the time course of heat stress by direct solar load similar to the day of the incident completed for 16 days from August 25 through September 16, 2009. We next employed a physiological model of thermoregulatory and cardiovascular responses to forecast and validate key responses to the thermal input data from the environmental analysis. 3. We validated changes that were consistent with severe imbalances in thermoregulation. Core, skin, and blood temperature increases, and severe fluid loss >5% were simulated in the analysis that reliably forecasted heat stroke (core temperature ≥41 °C) and, more likely than not, non-compensable brain damage. 4. We recommend the use of such consequence physiological modeling as an added adjuvant and tool, along with other emergency features, that might serve to minimize and optimize survival tactics used in curbing exertional and climatic heat stroke. KW: Hyperthermia in automobiles

Language: en