• June 30, 2026 | 4:05 PM - 5:00 PM
• PCC,120ABC

Off the Grid without the Toolbox: Management of Heat Illness in Resource-limited and Austere Environments

Athletic trainers are well-equipped to prevent, identify, and manage exertional heat illnesses in ideal conditions using effective interventions. However, many emerging practice settings, such as the military, lack commonly used resources like cold water immersion. Managing heat illness in austere environments requires creative, field-expedient cooling methods with minimal equipment. Most ATs have limited experience managing heat illness under such constraints, which may increase the risk of delayed intervention and adverse outcomes. This learning lab bridges that gap, providing practical strategies for preventing, identifying, and managing exertional heat illness using minimal equipment, with a focus on military and remote settings.

Learning Objectives - Compare the effectiveness and limitations of various field-expedient cooling techniques for treating heat illness.
- Summarize military-specific policies and protocols for prehospital heat illness management.
- Develop and evaluate treatment plans for exertional heat illness in settings with limited equipment or personnel.
- Propose adaptive strategies to prevent and manage heat illness in austere or remote environments.

Lab Objectives
- Demonstrate proper application of ice-sheet cooling and other improvised cooling methods.

Keywords: prehospital care; emergency cooling; military health care

Presented by: Committee on Practice Advancement