Burn Survivor Heat Risk Calculator
Written on August 01, 2024
Optimizing Physical Activity for Burn Survivors: A Heat Risk Assessment Tool
The human body regulates its temperature and prevents overheating through sweating and increases in skin blood flow. For burn survivors, these essential cooling mechanisms are impaired in areas of severely burned skin. This limitation makes it more challenging for burn survivors to regulate body temperature. For example, if a burn survivor has sustained burns over 60% of their body, only the remaining 40% can contribute to cooling. This can lead to a dangerous rise in body temperature during physical activity and increases one’s risk for a heat related illness (heat exhaustion, heat stroke, etc.).
Additionally, a higher body temperature can make exercise feel significantly harder, discouraging individuals from being physically active. For these reasons, heat intolerance in burn survivors can become a barrier to a physically active lifestyle.
A lack of regular physical activity increases the risk of chronic health conditions such as obesity, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Burn survivors, as a group, already face an elevated risk of these chronic conditions, along with higher rates of hospitalizations and stroke, and an increased mortality rate compared to the general population. Despite this, limited guidance exists to help burn survivors engage in safe and effective physical activity.
Given these challenges, our research aims to provide tools that improve the safety, comfort, and feasibility of exercise for burn survivors—ultimately promoting healthier, more active lifestyles and decreasing their risk of developing the adverse conditions mentioned above.
To that end, with funding from the National Institutes of Health – National Institute for General Medical Sciences and the support of Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, we developed an online heat risk assessment tool. This tool helps burn survivors estimate their heat-related risk during physical activity by considering key personal and environmental factors, including:
Environmental conditions: Temperature, humidity, and cloud cover of the selected location
Burn injury details: Percentage of total body surface area affected
Clothing choices: Type of clothing worn during activity
Personal characteristics: Height and weight
Activity parameters: Intensity and duration of physical activity
Expanding Research on Cooling Strategies
As an extension of this tool, our team is currently exploring various cooling techniques to help burn survivors manage heat stress while staying active. Recent findings suggest that spraying the body with water is an effective and accessible method for lowering body temperature during exercise—especially for those with burns covering 40% or more of their body surface area.
We hope that the heat risk assessment tool and our ongoing research will empower burn survivors with the confidence to safely engage in physical activity, whether that is going for a walk, golfing, or mowing the lawn. By providing practical guidance on when to exercise with minimal heat risk, we aim to support long-term cardiovascular health and overall well-being in the burn community.
How the Tool Works
Let’s consider “John,” a burn survivor in Jacksonville, FL, where it is currently 73°F with 65% humidity. John plans to do yard work starting at 11 am, an activity expected to take three hours at a moderate intensity. He is 6 feet tall, weighs 190 pounds, has 60% of his body affected by burns, and plans to wear a t-shirt and shorts.
The tool analyzes these factors and warns John that performing yard work at this time poses a high heat risk. However, the tool suggests delaying this work until 6:30 pm or early the next morning, when conditions will be cooler and safer.
Join Our Research Study
We are pleased to announce that we recently received a renewal grant from the National Institutes of Health – National Institute for General Medical Sciences to further this research, with a goal of improving the health and quality of life of burn survivors. If you are interested in assisting with this work as a research participant, please contact our laboratory located in Dallas, TX at IEEMThermoregulationTHD@texashealth.org or 214-345-4737. Funds are available to pay for time spent participating in the study and travel costs to Dallas (from within North America) for qualified research participants.
Beat the Heat: how to stay cool with burns
Time It Right – Plan your activities for the cooler parts of the day (early morning or late evening) and stick to shaded or breezy areas whenever possible.
Dress for Comfort – Wear loose, light-colored, and breathable fabrics to maximize airflow. Choose moisture-wicking or UV-protective clothing to stay cool and prevent sunburn.
Hydrate Like a Pro – Sip water regularly before, during, and after physical activity. If sweating heavily over a prolonged period, replenish lost electrolytes with sports drinks or electrolyte tablets.
Cool Down Smart – Mist yourself with water, use damp towels, or apply ice packs to the skin to lower body temperature.
Listen to Your Body – Pace yourself, take breaks, and be mindful of warning signs like dizziness, nausea, or extreme fatigue.
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References
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2. Nybo L. CNS fatigue provoked by prolonged exercise in the heat. Front Biosci (Elite Ed).2:779-792.
3. Nybo L, Nielsen B. Perceived exertion is associated with an altered brain activity during exercise with progressive hyperthermia. J Appl Physiol. 2001;91(5):2017-2023.
4. Nybo L, Rasmussen P, Sawka MN. Performance in the heat-physiological factors of importance for hyperthermia-induced fatigue. Compr Physiol. 2014;4(2):657-689.
5. Periard JD, Caillaud C, Thompson MW. Central and peripheral fatigue during passive and exercise-induced hyperthermia. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011;43(9):1657-1665.
6. Ganio MS, Pearson J, Schlader ZJ, et al. Aerobic Fitness Is Disproportionately Low in Adult Burn Survivors Years After Injury. J Burn Care Res. 2015;36(4):513-519.
7. Duke JM, Rea S, Boyd JH, Randall SM, Wood FM. Mortality after burn injury in children: a 33-year population-based study. Pediatrics. 2015;135(4):e903-910.
8. Duke JM, Boyd JH, Randall SM, Wood FM. Long term mortality in a population-based cohort of adolescents, and young and middle-aged adults with burn injury in Western Australia: A 33-year study. Accid Anal Prev. 2015;85:118-124.
9. Mason SA, Nathens AB, Byrne JP, et al. Increased Rate of Long-term Mortality Among Burn Survivors: A Population-based Matched Cohort Study. Ann Surg. 2019(269):1192-1199.
10. Duke JM, Boyd JH, Rea S, Randall SM, Wood FM. Long-term mortality among older adults with burn injury: a population-based study in Australia. Bull World Health Organ. 2015;93(6):400-406.
Disclaimer: The medical information provided on this website is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Medical knowledge is continually evolving, and recommendations may change over time. Content shared by subject matter experts reflects their expertise and experience at the time of publication and may not be applicable to all individuals. Always seek the guidance of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have about a medical condition. The views expressed by individual contributors do not necessarily reflect those of Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors.