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Article: Case Management Study: Cold-Water Immersion in a 22-Year-Old Service Member
- Article from:
- Military Medicine
- Article date:
- May 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright Association of Military Surgeons of the United States May 2006. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Cold-water immersion can include aspects of both hypothermia and near drowning. We present a case of a 22-year-old active duty service member who became a victim of cold-water immersion in Alaska. His rescue by the U.S. Coast Guard and subsequent treatment in a small community emergency room are reviewed using a case management format. Care of the cold-water immersion patient with limited resources is highlighted and the potential complications of cold-water immersion are emphasized. Disturbances in acid base balance, pulmonary function, and cardiac rhythm are discussed. Changes in some of the hematological indices seen in the cold-water immersion patient are reported for the first time.
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