Phoenix Fire Department uses mobile cold plunges to treat heatstroke

Rescuers in Phoenix, Arizona, are utilizing mobile cold plunges to treat hikers suffering from severe overheating. The Phoenix Fire Department has integrated these devices—described as a hybrid between a plastic tarp and a sleeping bag—into their emergency responses during the spring and summer months.

Fire Department Captain Mike Johnson noted that traditional methods, such as applying ice packs to the armpits and groin, were insufficient for rapid cooling. Medical research from the National Library of Medicine and the Mayo Clinic identifies cold water immersion as the ‘gold standard for exertional heatstroke treatment,’ noting that rapid immersion significantly reduces the risk of organ damage and death.

A recent life-saving intervention occurred at Camelback Mountain in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, where crews used the mobile plunge to treat a hiker following a distress call on August 16.