Could the closed Greek helmet kill a warrior?

M ELEY · 29th May 2005, 06:17 AM

fascinating thread. I had actually always wondered about armor and heat-related deaths in such circumstances. As a paramedic, I had to treat numerous victems of heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat stroke at bike rallys, where helmets protected the head, but added to the heat. With heat stroke (where the body temp reaches over 104), unless rapid emergency cooling with cool water, fans, stripped clothing, icepacks to the armpits and groin(wooo!), the process is irreversible and 100% fatal. Seizures, respiratory arrest, and death follow as the brain literally fries. The point here is, can you imagine a Crusader in full battle armor trying to pull off his protection, piece by piece, and find a source of cool water. This just wasn't likely to happen. I have no doubt that this was a tremendous problem, but as already pointed out, not glorious enough to talk about. (Reminds my of the movie, "A Knight's Tale", where Heath Ledger's master dies in his armor...of dysentery!).

29th May 2005, 06:17 AM	#7
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	Heat stroke fascinating thread. I had actually always wondered about armor and heat-related deaths in such circumstances. As a paramedic, I had to treat numerous victems of heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat stroke at bike rallys, where helmets protected the head, but added to the heat. With heat stroke (where the body temp reaches over 104), unless rapid emergency cooling with cool water, fans, stripped clothing, icepacks to the armpits and groin(wooo!), the process is irreversible and 100% fatal. Seizures, respiratory arrest, and death follow as the brain literally fries. The point here is, can you imagine a Crusader in full battle armor trying to pull off his protection, piece by piece, and find a source of cool water. This just wasn't likely to happen. I have no doubt that this was a tremendous problem, but as already pointed out, not glorious enough to talk about. (Reminds my of the movie, "A Knight's Tale", where Heath Ledger's master dies in his armor...of dysentery!).