Document Type

Abstract

Publication Date

2-11-2026

Comments

Presented at the 2026 Scholarly Inquiry (SI) Research Project Symposium.

Abstract

Introduction: Hyperthermia, particularly heatstroke, is a life-threatening failure of thermoregulation that requires rapid cooling to prevent serious sequelae. Despite effective hospital-based systems, prehospital and austere environments lack portable solutions capable of achieving timely temperature reduction. This project investigates whether a lightweight, field-ready garment incorporating endothermic salts can improve prehospital hyperthermia management.

Methods: We conducted a literature review and expert interviews with emergency and wilderness medicine clinicians to identify limitations of existing tools and define design requirements. A prototype was designed with a thermally conductive inner layer and insulating outer layer integrating off-the-shelf chemical cold packs. Planned testing includes quantifying heat transfer, cooling rate and duration, and weight, followed by simulations to assess usability.

Results: The primary product is a reusable cooling vest optimized for portability, rapid deployment, and sustained temperature control without external power or additional water. We anticipate the device will achieve meaningful cooling within 30 minutes and maintain normothermia at least as long as existing portable solutions. User-centered evaluation should demonstrate improved practicality compared with current methods.

Discussion/Conclusions: This project addresses a critical gap in prehospital hyperthermia care by prioritizing effectiveness and portability, with an open-source approach to maximize accessibility. If successful, this garment could benefit rescue, military training, athletics, and outdoor labor, as existing solutions are cost-prohibitive or require added mass. Limitations include reliance on surrogate temperature measurements and simulated testing conditions. Future work will optimize thermal design with higher-enthalpy salts and materials to reduce weight and measure simulated performance against established techniques.

Additional Files
Azizi_David_Coyle_Connor_poster.pdf (679 kB)

Language

English

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