Who will be eligible to be in the HYPOTHERMIA study?
All subjects over the age of 18 years treated by the Seattle Fire Department for a cardiac arrest during the study period may be eligible for the study. The subject must be successfully resuscitated from the cardiac arrest – the emergency medical providers must have been able to reestablish a pulse. The subject must also have a temperature > 33° C (93.5° F) and be unconscious. The cardiac arrest cannot be due to trauma such as a gunshot wound, stabbing, severe motor vehicle accident, etc. Induced hypothermia in this group of patients is not recommended.
