Pre-Hospital Hypothermia: Italy’s Nationwide HEMS Study with Luca Carenzo & Laura Leuci

<p>In this episode, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-spelsberg-md-fawm-fewm-3201116b" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Sarah Spelsberg</a> speaks with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/carenzmd" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><strong>Luca Carenzo</strong></a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraleuci" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><strong>Laura Leuci</strong></a> from Humanitas University in Milan about their research into the pre-hospital management of accidental hypothermia across Italy’s helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS).</p><p>Their nationwide survey, published in the <em>Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine</em>, offers a detailed look at how hypothermia is managed before hospital arrival—revealing system-wide gaps, training opportunities, and practical steps for improving patient outcomes.</p><p><strong>In this episode:</strong></p><ul><li><p>How a medical student led a nationwide HEMS research project</p></li><li><p>Why hypothermia management must start before hospital arrival</p></li><li><p>The biggest equipment and training gaps identified</p></li><li><p>The role of the “burrito wrap” in field insulation</p></li><li><p>How to balance standardisation with adaptability</p></li><li><p>Why education, simulation, and consistent training are key to progress</p></li></ul><p><strong>Read the full open-access paper:</strong><br><a href="https://sjtrem.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13049-025-01474-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><em>Pre-Hospital Management of Accidental Hypothermia: A Nationwide Survey Among Italian HEMS</em><br><em>Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine</em> (2025)</a></p>