A critical analysis of the ten most prevalent misconceptions in the prehospital recognition and management of exertional heat stroke
Exertional heat stroke(EHS)is the most serious and life-threatening acute heat-related illness.It can develop from heat-related illnesses,and the prehospital management is a crucial in the diagnosis and treatment of EHS.The prognosis of EHS patients is largely determined by the rapid recognition,effective cooling,and standardized transportation during the prehospital period.Extensive research has demonstrated that medical security personnel still have fatal misconceptions in the prehospital recognition and management of EHS,mainly due to the lack of recognition and inappropriate treatment.This review summarizes the top 10 misconceptions in prehospital recognition and management of EHS,based on domestic and international research findings and combined with practical scenarios.It also provides an accurate prehospital management plan according to the China Expert Consensus on Diagnosis and Treatment of Heatstroke,aiming to reduce or avoid irreversible damage to EHS patients caused by these misunderstandings and to decrease the incidence,disability rate,and mortality rate of EHS.