Management of heat emergencies in the military setting

Abstract

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has long battled in hot and arduous environments. From the trenches of Tobruk during World War II and the thick jungle of Vietnam through to current theatres of war such as the rugged mountains of Afghanistan. Australian soldiers are exposed to the constant threat of heat illness, and while avoidable in training settings, it cannot be prevented in some combat situations. Prevention however, is a key factor in the exclusion of heat illness cases, a matter that the ADF has worked hard to highlight through mandatory annual training. It is for this reason that military heat casualty rates remain low in the ADF. This article provides some useful assessment tools which help to differentiate between the different levels of heat illness; and furthermore, underlines the critical stages of heat illness and includes literature on the aetiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations and prehospital care management of heat illness.

Individual Anthropometric, Aerobic Capacity and Demographic Characteristics as Predictors of Heat Intolerance in Military Populations

“…The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is involved in combat-related activities in hot climatic conditions which exposes ADF members to the constant threat of exertional heat illness (EHI) [ 1 ]. The threat of EHI is significant, with heat stroke (a severe form of EHI) identified as the third most common combat-related injury (4.90% of the injuries) among ADF members between 2012 and 2014 [ 2 ].…”

Haematological, Biochemical and Hormonal Biomarkers of Heat Intolerance in Military Personnel

“…The military organisation responsible for defending Australian sovereignty and national interests is the Australian Defence Force (ADF) [3]. The physical activities performed by the ADF in regions characterised by extreme hot conditions increase the risk of exertional heat illness (EHI) [4]. EHI is a severity-based spectrum of disorders, and exertional heat stroke (EHS) is a severe form of EHI [5].…”