Pre-Hospital Hypothermia: Italy’s Nationwide HEMS Study with Luca Carenzo & Laura Leuci
Tue Feb 03 2026
In this episode, Sarah Spelsberg speaks with Luca Carenzo and Laura Leuci from Humanitas University in Milan about their research into the pre-hospital management of accidental hypothermia across Italy’s helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS).
Their nationwide survey, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine, 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.
In this episode:
How a medical student led a nationwide HEMS research project
Why hypothermia management must start before hospital arrival
The biggest equipment and training gaps identified
The role of the “burrito wrap” in field insulation
How to balance standardisation with adaptability
Why education, simulation, and consistent training are key to progress
Read the full open-access paper:Pre-Hospital Management of Accidental Hypothermia: A Nationwide Survey Among Italian HEMSScandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine (2025)
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In this episode, Sarah Spelsberg speaks with Luca Carenzo and Laura Leuci from Humanitas University in Milan about their research into the pre-hospital management of accidental hypothermia across Italy’s helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS). Their nationwide survey, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine, 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. In this episode: How a medical student led a nationwide HEMS research project Why hypothermia management must start before hospital arrival The biggest equipment and training gaps identified The role of the “burrito wrap” in field insulation How to balance standardisation with adaptability Why education, simulation, and consistent training are key to progress Read the full open-access paper:Pre-Hospital Management of Accidental Hypothermia: A Nationwide Survey Among Italian HEMSScandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine (2025)