Hypothermia Rewarming Effectiveness of Distal Limb Warming With Either Fluidotherapy or Warm Water Immersion

Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht is studying/comparing the effectiveness of heat donation through the distal arms and legs in rewarming a mildly hypothermic individual. Warming will be accomplished through either warm water immersion; and fluidotherapy.

Procedure. Eight participants will be cooled in 8°C water on three occasions and then warmed by each of three warming conditions. The study will include following specific procedures: Anthropometric data which includes age, weight, height, and measurements of skinfold thickness at four sites- biceps, triceps, subscapularis, and suprailiac will be collected. Participant's heart rate and electrocardiogram will be monitored continuously throughout the experiment.

Participants will be instrumented as follows:

1. About 12 heat flux disks (2 cm in diameter) will be taped to the skin on the arms, legs, torso, head etc. to measure skin temperature and heat transfer from the skin.
2. Three ECG leads will be affixed to the skin.
3. Core temperature will be measured with a disposable esophageal thermocouple. A thin, flexible tube will be inserted through the nose, to midway down the esophagus at the level of the heart.
4. Oxygen consumption will be continuously measured with a metabolic cart. Participants will be asked to wear a face mask which will collect the expired breath during the cooling as well as the rewarming periods.

Conditions: The three treatment methods are as follows.