UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Orthopedics

Title: Treat hyperthermia with a TACO

Keywords: Hyperthermia, cold water immersion (PubMed Search)

Posted: 5/11/2019 by Brian Corwell, MD (Updated: 4/19/2024)
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The TACO method (tarp assisted cooling with oscillation)

Cold water immersion (CWI) remains the standard for cooling in exercise induced hyperthermia

A low cost alternative is modified cold water immersion.

Sometimes, monetary reasons and location venue prevent the feasibility of CWI

Benefits: fast, cheap, portable

Portable – Allows for on site location at area of collapse

Cheap: Equipment required – 3 providers, 1 tarp, 20 gallons of water and 10 gallons of ice

Fast: Average time to set up – 3.4 minutes

The TACO method – fast effective reduction in core temperatures

May be up to 75% as effective as CWI

Hosokawa, Yuri et al.

Annals of Emergency Medicine , Volume 69 , Issue 3 , 347 - 352