Measurements of rates of cooling of a manikin insulated with different mountain rescue casualty bags

Abstract

BackgroundAccidental hypothermia is common in those who sustain injuries in remote environments. This is unpleasant and associated with adverse effects on subsequent patient outcomes. To minimise further heat loss, a range of insulating systems are available to mountain rescue teams although the most effective and cost-efficient have yet to be determined.MethodsUnder ambient, still, dry, air conditions, a thermal manikin was filled with water at a temperature of 42 °C and then placed into a given insulation system. Water temperature was then continuously observed via an in-dwelling temperature sensor linked to a PROPAQ 100 series monitor and recorded every 10 min for 130 min. This method was repeated for each insulating package.ResultsThe vacuum mattress/Pertex©/fibrepile blanket system, either on its own or coupled with the Wiggy bag, was the most efficient with water temperatures only decreasing by 3.2 °C over 130 min. This was followed by the heavy-weight casualty bags without the vacuum mattress/Pertex©/fibrepile blanket system, decreasing by 4.2–4.3 °C. With the Blizzard bag, a decline in water temperature of 5.4 °C was seen over the study duration while a decrease of 9.5 °C was noted when the plastic survival bag was employed.ConclusionsUnder the still-air conditions of the study, the vacuum mattress/Pertex©/fibrepile blanket was seen to offer comparable insulation effectiveness compared to be both heavy-weight casualty bags. In turn, these three systems appeared more efficient at insulating the manikin than the Blizzard bag or plastic survival bag.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13728-017-0055-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorised users.

Mountain Rescue Casualty Care and the Undergraduate Medical Elective

“…This provided focused tuition in the clinical aspects of mountain rescue casualty care. Within the remaining three days students completed selfdirected learning to develop their critical analysis skills through journal clubs, production of prehospital literature reviews and data collection for audit or research [14]. We also introduced the 3 Page 5 of 11 min thesis presentation (detailed further in [15]).…”

“…Consequently, students were introduced to the equipment employed by Edale mountain rescue team ( Fig. 2A-2D; [14]) and encouraged to practice with such devices ( 2A-2B) as well as more specialized kit including the Bell mountain rescue stretcher, traction and vacuum splints and thermal casualty bags ( Fig. 2C-2D; [14]).…”

“…2A-2D; [14]) and encouraged to practice with such devices ( 2A-2B) as well as more specialized kit including the Bell mountain rescue stretcher, traction and vacuum splints and thermal casualty bags ( Fig. 2C-2D; [14]). Students were also taught the considerations needed for a secondary survey of the patient including wound management and suitable methods of splinting and patient packaging for evacuation.…”

“…Within the remaining 3 d students completed self-directed learning to develop their critical analysis skills through journal clubs, production of prehospital literature reviews, and data collection for audit or research. 14 We also introduced the 3-min thesis presentation. 15 Essentially, in this presentation format, one needs to translate experimental data into a jargon-free lay narrative and present that in 3 min.…”

Efficacy of warming systems in mountain rescue: an experimental manikin study

“…Mountain rescue casualty bags are commonly used by rescue teams. Their ability to decrease the victim's heat loss has been confirmed in both human and manikin studies (Grant et al 2002;Press et al 2017). However, clinical trials have shown the substantial role of active external rewarming in order to prevent post-traumatic hypothermia (Lundgren et al 2011;Langhelle et al 2012).…”