Yuma fire department adds rapid cooling bags for heat emergencies

Yuma Fire Department has rolled out Titan Rapid Cooling Bags, a new heat-emergency tool filled with ice and cold water that can reduce body temperature up to eight times faster than traditional methods. The bags are meant to help crews treat victims of extreme heat more quickly as Yuma moves deeper into summer.

EMS Division Chief Daniel Espino is listed by the City of Yuma as Division Chief - EMS in the fire department staff directory. The bags are aimed at patients in heat stroke, and the fast cooling method is designed to bring core temperature down quickly.

The Yuma Fire Department has already responded to four heat-related emergencies so far this summer. The department projects about 30 such calls this season. Outdoor workers, seniors, hikers, youth sports participants and children in parked cars can all be exposed to dangerous heat.

Arizona Department of Health Services data show Arizona recorded more than 4,320 deaths from exposure to excessive heat from 2013 to 2024, including 977 heat-related deaths in 2024 alone. Yuma County is among the counties with the highest heat-related death rates in the state, alongside La Paz County and Mohave County.

Heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency, and response time is critical. Cold-water immersion is the most effective way to quickly lower core body temperature in heat stroke.

Along with the new bags, local agencies continue to push basic prevention steps: drink water, stay out of direct sunlight and take early symptoms seriously. Yuma County maintains heat-safety resources and water and cooling site information, and the Arizona Department of Health Services offers heat alerts by email or text.