Cold Stress

1
Cold Stress

• Facilities Planning Management
• By Chou Lor, Safety Coordinator

2
Objectives

• Cold Stress Factors
• Cold Environment
• Basic Hypothermia Concepts
• Conditions Affecting Hypothermia
• Hypothermia Signs Symptoms
• Safety Procedures
• Frostbite
• Preventing Cold Stress

3
Cold Stress Factors

• Cold stress is the loss heat to the environment
  due to
• Low temperature
• Wind
• Wetness
• The bodys first response to cold stress is to
  conserve body heat by reducing blood circulation
  through the skin.

4
Cold Stress Factors

• Normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees F.
• When body temperature drops below 86 degree F,
  the temperature control system becomes
  ineffective.
• When body temperature drops below 59 degrees F,
  it begins to experience impairment of many
  functions.

5
Basic hypothermia concepts

• Hypothermia means Low Heat and is a potentially
  serious health condition
• The major injuries associated with cold
  temperatures are
• General hypothermia
• Immersion hypothermia
• Frostbite
• Prolonged exposure to cold causes the body to
  lose energy faster than it is produced

6
Conditions Affecting Hypothermia

• Aging, allergies, poor circulation illness
• Self-imposed conditions, such as alcohol use,
  anti-depressants, or sedatives
• The body may have difficulty regulating
  temperature.
• Wet clothing, windy conditions, poor physical
  condition

7
Hypothermia Signs Symptoms

• Mild Hypothermia (98 90 degrees F)
• Shivering
• Numbness in limbs, loss of dexterity, and
  clumsiness
• Slurred speech
• Memory loss
• Pale, cold skin

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Hypothermia Signs Symptoms

• Moderate Hypothermia (90 86 degrees F)
• Shivering stops
• Confused and irrational
• Unable to walk or stand
• Severe Hypothermia (86 78 degree F)
• Severe muscle stiffness
• Very sleepy or unconscious
• Ice cold skin
• Death is a possibility

9
Safety Procedures

• Proper treatment depends on the severity of the
  hypothermia
• Mild Hypothermia
• Move to warm area
• Stay active
• Remove wet clothes and replace with dry clothes
  or blankets, cover the head
• Drink warm (not hot) sugary drink

10
Safety Procedures

• Moderate Hypothermia
• Use all of the Mild Hypothermia procedures and
  plus the following
• Call 911 for an ambulance
• Cover all extremities completely
• Warm center of body first with warm objects
• Severe Hypothermia
• Call 911 for an ambulance
• Treat the victim very gently
• Do not attempt to re-warm, the victim should
  receive treatment in a hospital

11
Frostbite

• Frostbite occurs when the skin actually freezes
  and loses water.
• Freezing of deep layers of skin
• Pale, waxy-white skin color
• Skin becomes hard and numb
• Usually affects
• Fingers and hands
• Toes and feet
• Ears and nose

12
Frostbite

• Three stages of frostbite
• Frost nip
• Individual experiences a pins and needles
  sensation and skin is unusually white and soft.
• Superficial
• Characterized by waxy feeling, frozen, numb, and
  possible blistering skin.
• Deep
• The most serious type of frostbite affects the
  blood vessels, muscles, nerves, tendons, and even
  bone -leading to possible permanent damage, blood
  clots, and death of body tissues.

13
Safety Procedures

• What to do
• Call 9-911
• Move to warm area
• Remove wet clothing
• Drink warm sweet fluids
• Do not rub the affected area
• Wrap in soft cloth

14
Preventing Cold Stress

• Engineering Controls
• Provide for general or spot heating, including
  hand warming.
• Use insulating material on equipment handles.
• Provide wind barriers if possible.
• Administrative Work Practices
• Train employees about cold stress, cold-related
  disorders, and first aid.
• Schedule work at warm times, if possible.
• Move work to warm areas, if possible.
• Take regular breaks in warm places.

15
Preventing Cold Stress

• Administrative Work Practices Cont.
• Use the buddy system (work in pairs when
  possible)
• Drink warm, sweet fluids, avoid caffeine and
  alcohol
• Recognize the environmental conditions that lead
  to cold stress
• Personal Protection
• Properly selected, insulated, and layered
  clothing
• Waterproof boots and gloves
• Eye protection for snow or ice-covered terrain

16
Cold Stress
Questions?

• Contact Chou Lor at [phone] or email to
  lorchou_at_uwec.edu