Cold Stress and Hypothermia Awareness

Cold Stress

• Cold stress occurs when skin temperature drops, leading to a decrease in core body temperature.
• This can lead to serious health issues and tissue damage, potentially resulting in death.
• Factors affecting cold stress include air temperature, body temperature, air movement around the body, body movement, and exposure time.

How the Body Reacts to Cold

• In cold environments, the body prioritizes maintaining core temperature.
• Blood flow shifts away from extremities (hands, feet, arms, and legs) and outer skin towards the core (chest and abdomen).
• This rapid cooling of exposed areas increases the risk of frostbite and hypothermia.

Common Cold-Induced Illnesses/Injuries

• Hypothermia
• Frostbite
• Trench foot
• Chilblains

Hypothermia: Warning Signs

• Confusion
• Shivering
• Difficulty speaking
• Sleepiness
• Stiff muscles

Treating Hypothermia

• Seek immediate medical attention.
• Move the affected person to a warm place.
• Remove wet clothes and replace with dry layers, including head and neck. Use blankets or a vapor barrier.
• Give warm, sweetened drinks (not alcohol) if conscious.
• Apply warm bottles/hot packs to armpits, sides of chest, and groin.

Frostbite

• Frostbite is tissue damage caused by freezing skin and underlying tissues.
• Lower temperatures accelerate frostbite risk.
• Commonly affects extremities (feet and hands).
• Severe cases may require amputation.

Frostbite: Symptoms

• Numbness in affected area
• Tingling or stinging
• Aching
• Pale or bluish, waxy-looking skin
• Blisters (in severe cases)

Treating Frostbite

• Do not rub the affected area. Doing so can cause further damage.
• Do not apply snow or water.
• Cover and protect frostbitten areas from contact.
• Do not try to rewarm frostbite at home; seek immediate medical help, rather than attempting home remedies.
• Medical professionals should rewarm the area.
• Give warm sweetened drinks (not alcohol) if conscious.

Frostbite First Aid Stages

• Get out of the cold
• Remove wet clothes
• Rewarm in warm water (30-40°C)
• Take pain relievers
• Drink warm liquids

If No Breathing or Pulse

• In an emergency, seek immediate medical assistance.
• Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until the person responds or medical help arrives.

Trench Foot

• Trench foot is a non-freezing injury.
• Caused by prolonged exposure to wet and cold temperatures (even moderately warm).
• Wet feet lose heat drastically faster than dry feet.
• To prevent heat loss, the body constricts blood vessels, reducing oxygen and nutrients, and leading to tissue death.

Trench Foot: Prevention

• Keep feet dry.
• Change wet socks frequently.
• Wear waterproof shoes.
• Warm up cold feet.

Trench Foot: Symptoms

• Redness of skin
• Numbness
• Leg cramps
• Swelling
• Blisters or ulcers
• Bleeding under skin
• Gangrene (dark purple, blue, or grayish discoloration)

Diabetic Foot Ulcers Classification

• The progression is depicted from Grade 0, intact skin, to Grade 5, gangrene of the entire foot.

Immersion Foot

• Seek immediate medical help.
• Remove wet shoes/boots/socks.
• Dry the feet.
• Avoid walking on them.

Chilblains

• Painful inflammation of small blood vessels, caused by repeated exposure to above-freezing temperatures (near freezing).
• Symptoms include redness, itching, possible blistering, inflammation (possible ulceration in severe cases).

Treating Chilblains

• Avoid scratching.
• Slowly warm the affected skin.
• Use corticosteroid creams for itching and swelling.
• Keep blisters/ulcers clean and covered.

Safety Tips for Workers

• Know the symptoms of cold stress.
• Monitor your physical and coworkers' conditions.
• Take frequent breaks to warm up.
• Dress appropriately for cold conditions.
• Stay dry to help prevent heat loss. (e.g., from sweating)
• Keep extra clothes/underwear as a precaution in case clothing gets wet.
• Drink warm sweetened beverages; avoid alcohol.
• Avoid contact with bare skin to cold metal/wet surfaces.
• Use protective equipment (PPE).