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With the onset of
cold weather. it's time to remind everyone to
take necessary precautions. such as those listed
to prevent and treat cold-related health
problems. Workers in construction and agriculture are
among those who need to take precautions.
Prolonged exposure to freezing or cold
temperatures may cause serious health problems
such as trench foot, frostbite and hypothermia.
In extreme cases. including cold water
immersion. exposure can lead to death. Danger
signs include uncontrolled shivering, slurred
speech. clumsy movements. fatigue and confused
behavior. If these signs are observed, call for
emergency help.
How to Protect Workers
1. Recognize dangerous environmental and
workplace conditions.
2. Learn the signs and symptoms of cold-induced
illnesses and injuries
3. Train workers about cold-induced illnesses
and injuries.
4. Encourage workers to wear proper clothing for
cold, wet and windy conditions.
5. Be sure
workers in extreme conditions take a frequent
short break in warm dry shelters to allow their
bodies to warm up.
6. Avoid exhaustion or
fatigue because energy is needed to keep muscles
warm.
7. Use the buddy system - allowing one
worker can recognize danger signs in the other
person.
8. Drink warm. sweet beverages (sugar water.
sports-type drinks) and avoid drinks with
caffeine (coffee. tea. sodas or hot chocolate)
or alcohol.
9. Eat warm. high-calorie foods such as hot
pasta dishes.
10. Remember. workers face increased risks when
they take certain medications. are in poor
physical condition or suffer from illnesses.
When the body is unable to warm itself. serious
cold related illnesses and injuries may occur.
and permanent tissue damage and death may
result. Hypothermia can occur when land
temperatures are above freezing or water
temperatures are below 98.6°F 37°C. Cold
related illnesses can slowly overcome a person
who has been chilled by low temperatures. brisk
winds. or wet clothing. tissue; pale; waxy-white
skin color; skin becomes hard and numb; usually
affects the fingers. hands. toes. feet, ears and
nose.
FROSTBITE
What Happens to the Body:
Freezing in deep layers of skin and tissue;
pale. waxy-white skin color; skin becomes hard
and numb; usually affects the fingers. hands.
toes. feet, ears. and nose.
What Should Be Done: (land temperatures)
1. Move the person to a warm dry area. Don't
leave the person alone.
2. Remove any wet or tight clothing that may cut
off blood flow to the affected area.
3. DO NOT rub the affected area. because rubbing
causes damage to the skin and tissue.
4. Gently place the affected area in a warm
(105°F) water bath and monitor the water
temperature to slowly warm the tissue. Don't
pour warm water directly on the affected area
because it will warm the tissue too fast causing
tissue damage. Warming takes about 25-40
minutes.
5. After the
affected area
has been
warmed, it
may become
puffy and
blister. The
affected area
may have a burning feeling or numbness. When
normal feeling. movement, and skin color have
returned. the affected area should be dried and
wrapped to keep it warm. NOTE: If there is a
chance the affected area may get cold again. do
not warm the skin. If the skin is warmed and
then becomes cold again. it will cause severe
tissue damage.
6. Seek medical attention as soon as possible.
HYPOTHERMIA
What Happens to the Body:
Normal body
temperature (98.6° F / 37° C ) drops to or below
95°F (350 c); fatigue or drowsiness;
uncontrolled shivering; cool bluish skin;
slurred speech; clumsy movements; irritable.
irrational or confused behavior.
What Should Be Done: (land temp.)
1. Call for emergency help.
2. Move the person to a warm, dry area. Don't
leave the person alone. Remove any wet clothing
and replace with warm, dry clothing or wrap the
person in blankets.
3. Have the person drink warm, sweet drinks
(sugar water or sports-type drinks) if they are
alert. Avoid drinks with caffeine (coffee, tea,
or hot chocolate) or alcohol..
4. Have the person move their arms and legs to
create muscle heat. If they are unable to do
this, place warm bottles or hot packs in the arm
pits, groin, neck, and head areas. DO NOT rub
the
person's body or place them in warm water bath.
This may stop their heart.
What Should Be Done: (water temp.)
1. Call for emergency help. Body heat is lost up
to 25 times faster in water.
2. DO NOT remove any clothing. Button, buckle,
zip, and tighten any collars, cuffs, shoes, and
hoods because the layer of trapped water closest
to the body provides a layer of insulation that
slows the loss of heat. Keep the head out of the
water and put on a hat or hood.
3. Get out of the water as quickly as possible
or climb on anything floating. DO NOT attempt to
swim unless a floating object or another person
can be reached. Swimming or other physical
activity uses the body's heat and reduces
survival
time by about 50 percent.
4. If getting out of the water is not possible,
wait quietly and conserve body heat by folding
arms across the chest, keeping thighs together,
bending knees, and crossing ankles. If another
person is in the water, huddle together with
chests held closely.
Workers Are at Increased
Risk When...
1. They have predisposing health conditions such
as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and
hypertension.
2. They take certain medication
(check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacy and
ask if any medicines you are taking affect you
while working in cold environments).
3. They are in poor physical condition, have a
poor diet, or are older. |