Workplace Safety

Cold Weather Health Emergencies

Cold Weather Health Emergencies On the job or at home, prolonged exposure to the cold may result in serious health emergencies. Hypothermia and frostbite are the most common cold-related hazards. Hypothermia When exposed to cold temperatures, your body loses heat faster than it can replace it. Prolonged exposure to the cold will eventually use up your body’s stored energy. This will result in an abnormally low body temperature, or hypothermia. Low body temperature affects the brain, making it difficult to think clearly. This makes hypothermia especially dangerous since a person may not know what is happening to them and won’t be able to do anything about it. Hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, but can even happen at cool temperatures (above 40^o) if the person becomes chilled by rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water. For adults, warning signs of hypothermia include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, and drowsiness. In infants, symptoms include bright red/cold skin, and very low energy. Take the person’s temperature if you notice these signs. If it is below 95^o, get medical attention immediately. If medical attention is not available, begin warming the person as follows: Get the victim into a warm shelter. Warm the center of the body first – chest, neck, head and groin. Use an electric blanket if available, or use to skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels, or sheets. Warm beverages can help increase body temperature, but do not give alcoholic beverages. Do not give beverages to an unconscious person. Once body temperature has increased, keep the victim dry and wrapped in a warm blanket, including the neck and head. Get medical attention as soon as possible. A person with severe hypothermia may be unconscious and may not seem to have a pulse or to be breathing. Even if the victim appears dead, provide CPR while they are being warmed, until they respond, or until medical attention arrives. In some cases, hypothermia victims who appear to be dead can be successfully resuscitated. Frostbite Frostbite is an injury caused by freezing. Frostbite causes a loss of color or feeling in affected areas. It most often affects the ears, nose, chin, cheeks, fingers, or toes. Frostbite may cause permanent damage or amputation in severe cases. At the first sign of pain or redness, get out of the cold or cover any exposed skin. The following signs may indicate frostbite: white or grayish-yellow skin, firm or waxy skin, and numbness. Victims are often unaware of frostbite until someone else points it out since the frozen tissue is numb. Seek medical care if you observe symptoms of frostbite. Since frostbite and hypothermia both result from cold exposure, check first to determine if the person also shows signs of hypothermia. Hypothermia is a more serious condition and requires emergency medical assistance. If there is frostbite but no sign of hypothermia, and if immediate medical attention is unavailable, follow these procedures: Get to warm shelter immediately Do not walk on frostbitten toes or feet – this increases the damage Immerse the affected area in warm – not hot –water, or warm the area using body heat. Do not rub or massage the frostbitten area – this may cause more damage. Do not use a heat lamp, heating pad, or the heat of a stove, fireplace, or radiator. Affected areas are numb and can be burned easily. The best advice is to evaluate the weather before you spend extended time outdoors. Contributed by: Keith Williams Safety and Industrial Hygiene Supervisor Department of Aviation Resource(s) – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Posted on Wednesday, February 03, 2010 (Archive on Wednesday, February 10, 2010) Posted by nisogiwan Contributed by nisogiwan
Return