Exertional heat stroke--the prevention of a medical emergency.

In most cases, exertional heat stroke (EHS) can be prevented in the military setting. The actions taken by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and their outcome prove this well. Unfortunately, despite the available information, there are still incidents of failure of command in conducting physical exercise, leading to EHS. In our experience, most incidences are a consequence of disregarding safety regulations. The application of simple and reasonable measures will not only prevent accidents from happening, but will also result in better trained soldiers.