ColdVentures has launched ColdVest, a Class 1 portable cooling device designed to prevent heat-related brain or organ damage and fatalities.

Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the device is engineered to provide immediate cooling for individuals at risk of heat stroke, a condition that can cause permanent harm within 30 minutes of onset.

Capable of reducing core body temperatures by up to five degrees in under three minutes, the device is designed to stabilise individuals until emergency medical services can take over.

The ColdVest operates using a patented endothermic cooling technology that does not rely on electricity, refrigeration or ice, making it highly portable and easy to use.

To activate, three litres of liquid are added to the device's integrated bladder, triggering the cooling chemicals and allowing the vest to be placed over the torso for immediate cooling effects.

ColdVentures co-founder and CEO Tracie Wagman said: “Heat-related deaths have been increasing dramatically in recent years, with estimates ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of incidents annually worldwide.

“We need to look beyond treatment methods like ice baths and adopt new technologies to save lives, as heat stroke is preventable in most cases.

“ColdVest is the only portable emergency device available for heat stroke that does not require electricity or refrigeration. Given that people endured, on average, 86 days of health-threatening high temperatures last year globally, ColdVest has the potential to save thousands of lives around the globe each year.”