Heat and Cold Related Injuries

1. Heat and Cold Related Injuries Prevention and First Aid

2. Heat Related Difficulties • Heat Cramps • Least severe of the three types of heat related difficulties • Painful muscle spasms • Usually occur in the legs and abdomen

3. Heat Related Difficulties • Heat Cramps • A result of loss of electrolytes (sodium and potassium) from perspiring (sweating assists our bodies in cooling off)

4. Heat Cramps - Prevention and First Aid • Best way to deal with heat cramps is prevention: • Add a little extra salt at meals (getting enough salt is rarely a problem in the typical American diet • Eat foods rich in potassium - bananas, apricots, orange juice, nuts, tomato juice • Condition yourself gradually

5. Heat Cramps – Prevention and First Aid • First Aid for heat cramps: • Have victim rest (sit or lie down) in a cool place • Give cool water • Light massage and stretching

6. Heat Exhaustion • More serious than heat cramps • Similar to shock • Prevention • Drink plenty of fluids - plain water is best before, during and after exercise • Again, increase sodium and potassium naturally

7. Heat Exhaustion • Avoid Gatorade and similar sports drinks as they actually inhibit fluid replacement, unless the activity is prolonged (over an hour).

8. Treatment for Heat Exhaustion • Treat mild cases the same as heat cramps (except do not stretch the muscles). • If persistent, gently apply wet towels and call EMS.

9. Heat Stroke • Also known as sunstroke • The most serious of the heat-related problems • Usually occurs in very hot and humid weather • The body can’t cool itself adequately

10. Heat Stroke • Prevention • On days that are going to be hot and humid, run early or late in the day, avoiding the hottest part • Consume plenty of fluids before, during and after

11. Heat Stroke • Recognize heat stroke symptoms in others • Hot, dry, flushed skin • Dizziness • Headache • Mental confusion

12. Heat Stroke Treatment • Objective is to cool victim as quickly as possible • Get victim out of the heat; half-sitting position • Loosen tight clothing • Remove perspiration soaked clothing • If humidity is below 75%, Apply cool, wet cloths to skin or spray with water; if humidity is 75%+, apply ice packs on neck, armpits, groin.

13. Heat Stroke Treatment • Fan the victim • If victim is conscious, give cool water • Call for ambulance if victim refuses water, vomits, or starts to lose consciousness

14. Cold-Related Emergencies • Biological defense mechanisms to maintain body temperature during exposure to cold: • Vasoconstriction • Shivering

15. Vasoconstriction • Vasoconstriction is the tightening of blood vessels in the exposed skin • Reduced skin blood flow conserves body heat, but at a price: • Discomfort • Numbness • Loss of dexterity in the hands, fingers, and other extremities • Eventually cold injuries

16. Shivering • Shivering increases internal heat production and helps to offset the heat being lost. • Body’s main involuntary defense against the cold. • Shivering produces body heat by forcing muscles to contract and relax rapidly. • About 80% of the muscle energy used in shivering is turned into body heat. • Shivering reflex stops when the core body temperature falls to about 86 degrees F.

17. Hypothermia • Life-threatening condition • Main cause of death for many outdoor recreational activities such as snowmobiling, skiing, hiking and backpacking • Hypothermia - the body’s core temperature drops below 95 degrees

18. Hypothermia • Signals of hypothermia: • Shivering • Numbness • Glassy stare • Apathy • Loss of consciousness

19. Hypothermia • The temperature does not have to be below freezing for hypothermia to occur, e.g. 50 degrees on land and 70 degrees or less in the water • Factors in Hypothermia • moisture • wind • fatigue • improper clothing

20. Hypothermia • Other factors in the development of hypothermia: • Age, e.g. elderly people in poorly heated homes • Alcohol • Diseases, e.g. C-V disease, diabetes • Length of exposure

21. Ways in which the body loses heat • Respiration - exhalation of warm air removes a small amount of body heat • Radiation - any uncovered body surface will give up heat to the surrounding air, head and neck mostly

22. Ways in which the body loses heat • Convection - wind current blowing across body will accelerate temperature loss by quickly removing radiated heat

23. Ways in which the body loses heat • Evaporation - Perspiration or moisture on skin drying will have a cooling effect • Conduction - when sitting on the ground or leaning next to a cold or wet object, heat will be absorbed from the body.

24. Safety tips to prevent hypothermia • Always keep head covered • If clothes get wet, change into dry ones immediately • Wear clothes in layers • Don’t sit on ground if taking a break • Limit periods of inactivity in cold conditions

25. Safety tips to prevent hypothermia • Maintain proper hydration and nutrition • Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine • Make a shelter if it begins to rain • Make camp before becoming exhausted • Carry high-energy foods

26. Other heat related problems • Frostbite • Dehydration • Small children and elderly in hot cars • Sunburn

27. Frostbite • Freezing of body tissues • Severity depends on air temperature, length of exposure, and wind • Can cause the loss of body parts • Signs of frostbite: • Loss of feeling (numbness) • Skin appears waxy • Skin is cold to the touch • Skin is discolored

28. Frostbite • First aid: • Warm the area by soaking in warm water (105 degrees) • Don’t rub affected area • Loosely bandage area after it has regained color and warmth • Gauze between fingers and toes • Don’t break blisters