Cold Weather Emergency

 

When cooling affects the entire body a problem known ad hypothermia develops.  Exposure to cold reduces body heat; with time the body is unable to maintain its proper core temperature.  If allowed to continue, hypothermia leads to death.  Hypothermia can develop in temperatures well above freezing.  If an elderly person that has fallen during the night and lay on the floor of a cool or cold room for an extended period of time death may occur.  Hypothermia is often an especially serious problem for the elderly.  Failing body systems, chronic illnesses poor diets, certain medications, and a lack of exercise may combine with the cold environment such as rooms that are kept to cool may lead to hypothermia. 

Infants and children are especially prone to hypothermia due the their large skin surface in relation to their body mass and little amount of body fat, because of their small muscle mass infants and children don’t shiver very much or not at all, their inability to shiver effectively is another reason for their susceptibility to the cold.  Shivering is one of the body’s attempts to increase core temperature.

A person who has been injuried, or a person under the influence of alcohol or other drugs also tend to be affected more rapidly and more severly than other.

Signs and symptoms of hypothermia may include shivering, numbness a stiff or rigid posture, drowsiness, an irrational state of mind, an altered breathing or pulse rate, loss of coordination, joint or muscle stiffness, decreased level of consciousness, cool abdominal skin, the skin may appear red in early stages.  Pale to cyanotic (blue) in prolonged stages.  Some body parts may be stiffened hard (frozen)

 

D.I. Harvey
Firefighter
Princeton Firefighters IAFF Local 466