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Abstract

A method for cooling the extracranial area including the face and, optionally, also including the mandible, during emergency care of cardiac arrest or severe shock; the method is preferably implemented by means of a hood- or cap-like topical cold pack which requires no refrigeration. Extracranial cooling causes two thermal changes in the physiology of the cardiac or respiratory patient: extracranial vasoconstriction promotes maximum perfusion to the brain during CPR or severe shock, and the resultant conductive intracranial cooling lowers the oxygen demands of the individual brain cells, particularly those of the cerebrum. These two phenomena together postpone damage to brain cells in the event of cardiac arrest or severe shock. Cooling also thermodynamically slows any degenerative processes which may have already commenced. The hood- or cap-like topical cold pack contains the unreacted constituents of an endothermic reaction, such as pellets of ammonium nitrate (NH.sub.4 NO.sub.3) stored adjacent a selectively available reservoir of water, and thus needs no external refrigeration, coolant or insulation for storage. The topical cold pack is thus well suited for use in emergency care settings for which refrigeration may not be available.

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