How bags of ice are helping save lives in Phoenix

Extreme heat claims more lives in the U.S. than any other weather hazard. In Phoenix, heat-related deaths outpace homicides each year. To combat this lethal threat, the city has turned to an unlikely solution: bags of ice. The city's fire department is pioneering a new approach to treating heatstroke. Ben Tracy of Climate Central reports on how this low-tech method is saving lives in America's hottest city.

Phoenix firefighters have adopted a standard heatstroke protocol, utilizing a blue bag filled with ice water to rapidly cool down individuals experiencing heatstroke. Captain Dave Kirk of the Phoenix Fire Department explains that cold water immersion has become a much more effective treatment than previous methods, such as applying ice packs to the neck and groin. This new approach can cool patients up to three to five times faster, preventing brain damage and organ failure.

The increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves due to climate change has prompted Phoenix to adapt its heatstroke response. With 39 more hot summer days compared to 1970, firefighters now train in the searing sun and have incorporated cooling bags into their equipment. Over 220 rapid cooling bags have been used this summer alone, and ice is stockpiled at popular trailheads to cool overheated hikers.

Dr. Geoff Comp, a doctor at Valleywise Health Medical Center, emphasizes that cooling patients before reaching the emergency room is a game-changer. By reducing the duration of exposure to high temperatures, this method decreases mortality rates and saves lives. This new weapon in the battle against heat is proving to be a lifesaver in the scorching city of Phoenix.