Heat emergencies can occur in remote areas where cold water immersion is not possible. Wildland firefighters carry water for hydration purposes and materials that could be used as a tarp. This study compared body cooling rates using tarp-assisted cooling with materials available in the wilderness with the current standard care of dousing someone in water and hiking them out to advanced medical personnel.  

Using tepid water to rapidly cool a hyperthermic person was not beneficial compared to the current practice of dousing them in water and carrying them to advanced medical personnel. Neither body cooling method results in an adequate cooling rate for heat stroke treatment.